Bradley Barcola still has much to do at Liverpool, but the former PSG man has already begin to prove Andoni Iraola right, easing a huge Reds concern in the process
Bradley Barcola in action for Liverpool against Atletico Madrid.
Bradley Barcola in action for Liverpool against Atletico Madrid.(Image: Visionhaus/Getty Images)
When Bradley Barcola pulled up inside the Atletico Madrid penalty area, there was a collective holding of breath inside Anfield.
The Liverpool new-boy limped off, but it turned out only to be cramp. "He got a bit tired but that is normal, and he defended with everything, like we need," Dominik Szoboszlai said.
Andoni Iraola, at the time that the Hungarian was speaking with reporters, had already confirmed that Barcola's issue was nothing to worry about, and that he might be able to start against Fulham this weekend. And that Barcola was unable to continue and felt exhausted should be no surprise. Firstly, this was his first start since the World Cup.
Secondly, the thing that arguably stood out the most in his performance was just how much running he got through. Alongside Florian Wirtz, Barcola's physical output going back towards his own goal was notable.
Ronald Araujo is a more defensively stable option at right-back than Jeremie Frimpong, but he was helped enormously by Barcola dropping a long way back to help out.
Especially in the first half, when Iraola admitted that Liverpool was caught out by Atletico Madrid playing a different formation than it expected, Barcola's willingness to track all the way back time and time again was priceless.
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 09: Bradley Barcola of Liverpool misses a shot during the UEFA Champions League 2026/27 League Phase MD1 match between Liverpool FC and Atletico de Madrid at Anfield on September 09, 2026 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by Jan Kruger - UEFA/UEFA via Getty Images)
Bradley Barcola goes desperately close to marking his first appearance for Liverpool at Anfield with a goal in the 2-1 Champions League victory over Atletico Madrid (Image: Jan Kruger - UEFA/UEFA via Getty Images)
The other noteworthy element of Barcola's home debut and first start, of course, was that he was lining up on the right wing, with Rio Ngumoha left in his favored spot.
"(Barcola) likes to play on the left," Szoboszlai said, but the 24-year-old certainly didn't look out of place on the opposite side.
There were moments when he wasn't quite on the same wavelength as his teammates, but that will come.
And though he missed a big chance when played through by Wirtz, it was his pure speed — the very thing Liverpool lacked most last season — that got him into the position in the first place.
"We haven’t seen much of him yet... but I’ve seen enough!" the former Reds winger Jermaine Pennant told Liverpool.com.
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"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!"
Salah was very much a right-sided forward, at least at Liverpool, but the current crop are more than capable of operating down both flanks.
"I like my wingers to play both sides," Iraola said before Barcola made his debut. "Even Bradley is very open and can play both right and left. I'm happy with the four wingers we have."
After his $166 million (£123 million) move from PSG, there is much more to come from Barcola, clearly. But the early signs have been positive, and his key traits are clear.
Liverpool may not have a 'natural' right winger, but the early evidence from Barcola — and Victor Munoz — is that it may not matter after all.