EXCLUSIVE: Former Liverpool winger Jermaine Pennant on Bradley Barcola, Alexis Mac Allister's contract claim, and Alexander Isak and Florian Wirtz under Andoni Iraola
Liverpool head coach Andoni Iraola has taken over from Arne Slot
Liverpool head coach Andoni Iraola has taken over from Arne Slot(Image: Alfie Cosgrove/News Images/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
Bradley Barcola has already done enough to convince the former Liverpool winger Jermaine Pennant that he will be a major success under Andoni Iraola after making a $166 million (£123 million) transfer move from PSG.
Liverpool chased Barcola, its top target, all the way through the summer. The Frenchman has so far made two appearances, and went off against Atletico Madrid only with cramp rather than an injury.
"We haven’t seen much of him yet... but I’ve seen enough!" Pennant tells Liverpool.com. "We’ve needed someone with that electric pace going forward, and no one can catch him. He gives you that feeling that he’s the young Mo Salah!
"The question marks are always there, though. We know he’s got all the quality and the ability to get in the right positions and beat defenders — but when it comes to putting the ball in the back of the net, that is where he lacks. I don't mind that, though, if he's getting in those positions, and getting me standing up out of my chair and making me scream.
"If he scored that chance last night, it would have been the perfect scenario — at Anfield, in front of the Kop, on your debut — it would be like a Fernando Torres moment against Chelsea."
Before the game against Atletico Madrid, Alexis Mac Allister, who scored the winner in the second half, dropped the bombshell that he was "sad" not to have been offered a new deal when others like Dominik Szoboszlai and Ryan Gravenberch have.
Bradley Barcola is one of Liverpool's most expensive signings in recent times
Bradley Barcola is one of Liverpool's most expensive signings in recent times(Image: Photo by Liverpool FC/Liverpool FC via Getty Images)
"He needs to put in performances to earn that extension — you’ve got to earn the right," Pennant says. "If he’d had a good season last year, you would question why he wasn’t offered an extension — but he’s got two years left. If he plays like he did last season, Liverpool would start looking at £85M bids from Real Madrid.
"If Liverpool get that Team of the Year Mac Allister back, then I’m sure they won’t want to lose him, especially on a free at the end of his contract. I don’t think he should worry, he just needs to get his head down, keep working hard and that contract will come."
And if Liverpool is a success this season, its front two, Alexander Isak and Florian Wirtz, will have a lot to do with it.
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"If you are Isak, there’s no better player to link up with than Wirtz because he finds those little passes, breaking through the lines," Pennant adds.
"He doesn’t hold onto the ball for too long — he knows exactly when to give it.
"It is all about getting that connection — like he did with Hugo Ekitike — the more games they play together and the more assists they provide each other that connections will only grow.
"They’ll start forming a bond without even knowing it, it will come to a point when Isak will just know that Wirtz is the man who can sort him out with assists and vice-versa."