Liverpool £123million transfer signing Bradley Barcola has been speaking ahead of the Premier League clash against Manchester City
Bradley Barcola of Liverpool
Bradley Barcola of Liverpool(Image: Nikki Dyer/Liverpool FC via Getty Images)
View Image
Bradley Barcola has dropped a hint he won't be asked to deputise for Alexander Isak when Liverpool entertain Premier League rule-breachers Manchester City on Sunday.
The Reds will be without top scorer Isak for the blockbusting showdown after the striker suffered a thigh injury when on international duty with Sweden a fortnight ago.
With the in-form Cody Gakpo nursing an ankle complaint sustained while starring for the Netherlands and Hugo Ekitike continuing his recovery from a long-term Achilles injury, Andoni Iraola is without his three main options to lead the attack.
The Liverpool head coach could hand 20-year-old Wales international striker Lewis Koumas a first Premier League start while Florian Wirtz is another alternative as a false number nine.
READ MORE: Jamie Carragher 'doesn't feel right' over Liverpool title claim and sends Man City owners warning
And while Iraola has also talked up the possibility of one of the wide players being moved into a central role, Barcola - a £123million arrival from Paris Saint-Germain during the summer - has revealed he thus far hasn't been asked by the Reds boss to do anything other than play on either flank.
"No, not more than that," said the France international. "He asks me to do what I can do, to play as usual, so I can play on the left and on the right.
"It's true that I prefer to play on the left, but it doesn't bother me to play on the right, so there's no problem with that and I try to be ready to play left or right.
"I think it's going to be a very tough match, because Manchester City are a very good team. We'll be playing at home with all our fans, so I think we have that advantage and we know they'll be behind us.
"It's going to be tough, but we'll be ready. They haven't lost games, but we haven't lost any games either."
The match is the first of nine in 29 days for Liverpool before next month's international break, and Barcola acknowledges the importance of gaining early momentum during such a hectic period.
"It's going to be the game that's going to launch us in the series of games we're going to have," he said. "If we manage to win this game, it's going to be very good for the future."
Barcola has yet to provide a goal or an assist in five Liverpool appearances, three of which have been starts. But the France international is adamant he is starting to better adapt to the unique demands of playing in the Premier League.
Speaking to liverpoolfc.com, he said: "Yes, I feel comfortable. At the beginning, I had to adapt and now I feel that I'm adapting more and more. So, I'm very happy to start ahead and I hope to be even better on the pitch."
"I think it's very intense (in the Premier League). It's very different from Ligue 1. But yes, you have to work hard to be ready for a lot of running and that's what I try to do in training to be prepared for every match."
Ensure our latest news and what's on headlines always appear at the top of your Google search by making us a preferred source.Click here to activateor add us as a preferred source in your Google search settings.