Liverpool bounced back from their heavy defeat to Manchester City in emphatic fashion, cruising to a 6-3 victory over Austrian side LASK in the Champions League.

Bahdle Bahcila was the star of the night, scoring a hat-trick as Liverpool maintained their perfect start to the competition with two wins from two matches.

Liverpool dominated possession and created most of the early chances. Their pressure paid off in the 23rd minute when Ronald Araujo headed home from Kostas Tsimikas’ corner to give the visitors the lead.

Liverpool doubled their advantage just two minutes later. Rio Ngumoha drove into the box before going down under pressure, and Luis Koumas picked up the loose ball before setting up Bahcila. The French forward made no mistake with a powerful finish.

Koumas thought he had added another goal in the 31st minute, but the effort was ruled out for offside. Liverpool then came close again when Ryan Gravenberch’s angled effort struck the far post.

The third goal eventually arrived through Bahcila. After controlling Florian Wirtz’s pass inside the box, he produced a composed angled finish to score his second of the match.

Liverpool continued their dominance after the break and extended their lead in the 51st minute. Jeremie Frimpong met Tsimikas’ cross from the left with a powerful header to make it 4-0.

LASK finally responded in the 63rd minute when Robert Ljubicic fired home from inside the box after receiving a pass from a teammate.

Three minutes later, however, Bahcila completed his hat-trick. Frimpong delivered a ball from the right towards the far post, where Bahcila was left unmarked and calmly finished to make it 5-1.

Koumas finally got on the scoresheet in the 72nd minute, converting Frimpong’s pass to put Liverpool 6-1 ahead.

LASK managed to add two more goals through Flecker within a five-minute spell, first with a diving header and then with a powerful strike. But the comeback never materialised as Liverpool held on for a 6-3 victory.

The result gives Liverpool six points from their opening two Champions League matches after their win over Atletico Madrid in the first round. They currently sit second in the table, level on six points with leaders Barcelona. Sporting and Arsenal also have six points.

For LASK, it was a second consecutive defeat in the competition, leaving them without a point after two matches.