Andoni Iraola faces two Liverpool problems despite six-goal Champions League win over LASK

Liverpool 's 6-3 Champions League victory over LASK offered an encouraging glimpse of their attacking potential under Andoni Iraola, but the result also highlighted two tactical problems that could continue to undermine their Premier League ambitions. Six goals,a first Liverpool hat-trick for Bradley Barcolaand another promising performance from Florian Wirtz should have provided an emphatic response to last weekend's 3-0 defeat against Manchester City.

Yet Liverpool's extraordinary evening in Austria also exposed the difficulties Iraola has encountered since taking charge at Anfield during the summer. The Reds sit ninth in the Premier League after nine matches, having recorded five victories, three draws and one defeat, with 18 goals scored and 12 conceded.

Their European form has been more convincing, but Wednesday's victory underlined the considerable difference between overwhelming an adventurous opponent and consistently breaking down organised Premier League defences. Liverpool registered 26 shots and generated 3.34 expected goals against LASK, according to Opta, including a remarkable 19 attempts before half time.

Those figures demonstrate the attacking threat Iraola's side can produce when space is available. However, the challenge is reproducing that quality of chance creation against more disciplined opposition while ensuring that the aggressive pressing system does not leave the defence unnecessarily exposed.

Why Liverpool's high press is not always producing quality chances Iraola's football is built around recovering possession quickly, often through intense pressure high up the pitch, and attacking before opponents can reorganise. The approach can be devastating when Liverpool force mistakes in advanced areas, but winning the ball back does not automatically create a clear scoring opportunity.

Against compact defensive blocks, opponents can recover their shape before the Reds have moved the ball into dangerous positions. Liverpool then need greater patience, better movement between the lines and more precise decisions in the final third.

This is where Florian Wirtz becomes particularly important. The Germany international arrived from Bayer Leverkusen for a British-record £116m deal to provide the creativity Liverpool needed, but his adaptation to English football has been inconsistent.

At Leverkusen, Wirtz frequently enjoyed the freedom to move between midfield and attack, receiving possession in pockets of space from which he could dictate the tempo or release runners behind the defence. Under Iraola, that influence has been harder to establish consistently, particularly against opponents capable of matching Liverpool's physical intensity.

Wirtz showed what he can offer against LASK, notably with a perfectly weighted pass that allowed Barcola to score his second goal. His understanding with the French winger was encouraging, with Barcola's willingness to attack space giving Wirtz a clear target for passes behind the opposition defence.