Bradley Barcola scored a hat-trick and Florian Wirtz shone after recent criticism as Liverpool thrashed LASK 6-3 to earn their second win in the Champions League.
Barcola kick-started his Liverpool career, having not scored or assisted in six appearances since his £123m move from Paris Saint-Germain, while Wirtz with a fine performance in what was expected to be a comfortable evening against the Austrian Bundesliga champions.
Liverpool had 19 shots in the opening period, a new record for an away team in the first half of a Champions League game, as Ronald Araujo headed in his first goal for the club before Barcola got off the mark with a tidy finish and then slotted in another from a Wirtz pass.
Andoni Iraola's side were relentless with Trey Nyoni, 19, impressing in midfield alongside Ryan Gravenberch and they helped add a fourth when Jeremie Frimpong met Kostas Tsimikas' cross with an excellent header that went in off the post just six minutes after the break.
Iraola benched Virgil van Dijk in Austria for only the third time in Liverpool's 39 Champions League games since 2022, but when he and Joe Gomez were introduced at centre-back in the 62nd minute, they conceded three times.
Barcola's hat-trick, a tap-in from Frimpong's cross, followed Robert Ljubicic's consolation before Wales striker Lewis Koumas, leading the line in Alexander Isak's absence, deservedly scored Liverpool's sixth after he had two efforts ruled out for offside.
Florian Flecker reduced the deficit late on with two clinical finishes in two minutes, exposing Liverpool's sloppy defending to take some shine off the victory.
Liverpool head coach Andoni Iraola:
On Barcola: "I think he played so well today and not just the goals. He had more chances to score, he was always a threat attacking the spaces in behind. In training, sometimes you feel when a player is in the zone, and fortunately tonight for us, he has shown the level that he has."
On Wirtz: "I think he was amazing in possession. I think he had lively passes, good assists, he helped us to control the game. Especially in the first half where he was roaming around and finding good spots. It was a good game from Florian."
On defence: "Probably the reason why the manager shouldn't change both centre-backs, but we were already winning 4-0 and you have to think about the next game and saving the legs of the players. We didn't defend properly at the end of the game."
Your Site' David Richardson:
On a night when so much went right for Liverpool, some defensive concerns remained. More worryingly, the problems began when experienced duo Virgil van Dijk and Joe Gomez came on, replacing the untested partnership of Jeremy Jacquet and Ronald Araujo.
Finding balance in this Liverpool side was a factor in Arne Slot's dismissal and something Andoni Iraola has struggled with early in his time at the club.
The attack hasn't been free-flowing this season either, creating just nine big chances in the Premier League, the fewest of any team alongside Aston Villa and Coventry, but it clicked in Austria, albeit against weaker opposition.
Bradley Barcola will hope he has ignited his Liverpool career while Florian Wirtz delivered a confidence-boosting performance and Lewis Koumas' goal will help him grow in stature.
Liverpool are still very much a work in progress as Iraola finds a formula to blend his big-money signings with a new style of play.
