Bradley Barcola got off the mark for Liverpool in spectacular fashion, scoring the first hat trick of his career in a thrilling 6-3 win at Austrian champions LASK Linz on Wednesday.
Barcola, who arrived from European champions Paris Saint-Germain this summer in a deal worth a potential £123 million, had gone goalless in his first six appearances for Liverpool.
Pressure had been building on the France forward after the club's marquee signing had not scored or set up any goals in four Premier League appearances.
Barcola joined from Paris Saint-Germain in the biggest deal of the summer transfer window, worth £123 million ($166 million), but had not made an immediate impact -- unlike some of his predecessors at Liverpool, like Mohamed Salah, Sadio Mané, Luis Suárez and Fernando Torres.
But he put that right to emphatic effect Wednesday, with his first senior at trick in what was his 206th senior appearance.
"I think he played so well today, not just with the goals but also with chances 1v1, when we got into the spaces in behind," Liverpool coach Andoni Iraola told TNT Sports. "I could feel it already yesterday in training. Sometimes you feel it when a player is in the zone, and fortunately for us he showed the level that he's got."
The 24-year-old scored with either foot in the first half to open his account for the club against opponents making their debut among Europe's elite.
A far-post tap-in midway through the second half was the easiest of his three but by then his confidence was soaring, having missed a trio of chances in the win over Atlético Madrid last month.
Bradley Barcola racts after completing his hat trick in Liverpool's win over LASK Linz. Alexander Hassenstein/Getty Images While Barcola will grab the headlines, there was also a first Liverpool goal for Ronald Araújo following his loan signing from Barcelona, while 21-year-old forward Lewis Koumas scored for the first time in the Champions League.
Liverpool's other goal came from Jeremie Frimpong, with Liverpool at one point holding a 6-1 lead.
LASK made the scoreline more respectable late on, thanks to a double from Florian Flecker.
The nine goals made it the highest-scoring European game for Liverpool since their 5-4 2001 UEFA Cup final win over Alavés.
Iraola's side, who bounced back from a 3-0 Premier League loss to Manchester City on Sunday, have begun the Champions League with back-to-back wins, following their opening victory over Atlético.