On the eve of the meeting between Liverpool and LASK, manager Andoni Iraola was questioned several times about the fate of Florian Wirtz and Bradley Barcola.
Given their prices, the pressure was on for both to start delivering after the shaky start to their individual campaigns. Iraola, as most managers would, stood by his players, insisting he trusted them “100%”.
Iraola insisted the focus was on collective rather than individual statistics, but there is no denying that when you spend such impressive sums – £116m for Wirtz and £123m for Barcola – you want these players to be match-winners.
Wirtz delivered a fine performance in the Austrian city of Linz as Liverpool won 6-3, with an assist to show for his efforts.
However, it was a night where the headlines belonged to Barcola, who, in the 238th appearance of his career for all clubs and countries, scored his first hat-trick.
And it was those three goals that made the difference as Liverpool returned to winning ways following their 3-0 defeat to Manchester City on Sunday.
In truth, the 24-year-old could have scored more, such was his quality, but he did enough to bring home the match ball after two fine right- and left-footed finishes, followed by a strike after the break.
And just over 24 hours after defending his players against those pre-match questions, Iraola was speaking with a smile on his face.
“I’m really happy for Bradley,” Iraola said.
“You were asking me yesterday if he didn’t do the numbers and (the same with) Florian and I think they both played really, really well today. I think they made the difference.
“Bradley was a threat, always one-on-one (and) certainly behind. He helped us a lot to control the game, to find the pockets. I’m happy for both of them.
“I think for their trust, it’s very good. I think they feel now that we trust them a lot. I think it’s going to be very good, very good for them.”
On what it could mean for Barcola, Iraola added: “I think he has to take advantage of it (because) to score a hat-trick in the Champions League it’s always very difficult.
“Even yesterday in training I could feel he was very sharp. Sometimes you feel these things (are going to happen). We felt he was in a good position before the game.”
Barcola will now hope to show that level in the Premier League, starting with a visit to Brentford on Saturday.
Gn sports
