Bradley Barcola Faces Setback in Liverpool Start

Bradley Barcola’s Liverpool start has stalled almost before it began.

The 24-year-old French winger, signed to bring pace and directness to the left flank, is already facing his first setback of the season after limping out of the Champions League clash with Atletico Madrid just after the hour mark. Three games, no goals, and now time on the treatment table. It is not the script anyone at Anfield had in mind.

Barcola’s injury has arrived at the worst possible moment, with fixtures starting to pile up and competition for places intensifying. Instead of bedding into Andoni Iraola’s high-tempo system, he is working alone, away from the main group.

Manager's Update

On the eve of Liverpool’s Carabao Cup third-round tie against Tottenham, Iraola drew a clear line: there will be no rush.

“He is not ready to train with the team yet. He is training on his own, but he has started to touch the ball. We want him back as soon as possible,” the Liverpool manager said, speaking to Foot Mercato.

The message sounded hopeful, but not immediate. Progress, yes. Return, not yet.

“He still has some time to recover, and it will take a while,” Iraola added. “With all these long-term injuries, I think Giovanni Leoni has a slight edge over him.”

That last remark underlined the reality. While Barcola battles to get fit, others are nudging ahead in the internal hierarchy. Leoni, mentioned by name, is one of those benefitting from the Frenchman’s absence, gaining rhythm and trust while a major summer signing watches from the sidelines.

For Barcola, the challenge is now twofold: heal properly, then catch up quickly. Liverpool invested in his future, not just his first month. But in a squad this competitive, every missed week opens the door a little wider for someone else.