Bradley Barcola has been tipped to find some form and help unlock some of his Liverpool teammates, with Andoni Iraola set for a "big challenge" in the next few weeks
Liverpool winger Bradley Barcola.
Liverpool winger Bradley Barcola.(Image: Robbie Jay Barratt - AMA/Getty Images)
Former Liverpool striker Michael Owen has insisted that the likes of Bradley Barcola and Florian Wirtz have too much quality not to succeed at Anfield despite a tough start to the new season.
Signed for a combined sum of around $315 million (£239 million), Barcola and Wirtz struggled against Manchester City on Sunday, with Liverpool falling to a 3-0 defeat on home soil. The Reds are in Champions League action next with a trip to face the Austrian Bundesliga side LASK.
"Liverpool are struggling without their top stars," Owen admitted. "With Alexander Isak, Dominik Szoboszlai (hopefully short term), and Hugo Ekitike all out against City, you are going to miss them as they're top players.
"So they are missing all of them, and Isak does help them as the number one striker through the middle. If you take any main forward out of the team, they will be missed.
"I think Lewis Koumas is a bright young prospect. I love his attitude, his energy was good, I thought he certainly didn't look out of place and yesterday, with how everyone played, you could argue he was one of the most threatening forward players.
"You've seen Wirtz struggle to get going at Liverpool and now Barcola is taking time to settle in. With all of them struggling to hit the ground running, it is a concern, but they are proven, top-quality players, and class will tell.
Liverpool forward Bradley Barcola.
Liverpool forward Bradley Barcola.(Image: Alex Pantling/Getty Images)
"I am sure it won't be long before it does click for them. That is the real issue, as if all of the new players are playing well, they gain confidence and push on, but with some struggling, it is an issue and Liverpool do need to improve their attacking threat. It is so early for Barcola, but it's a patient man game at the minute."
Getting more from Barcola will help in the short term, with Iraola unsure when the likes of Isak, Szoboszlai, and Cody Gakpo will return, having each collected injury issues during the international break.
But while he is a big-money addition, the French forward is still adapting to life in England. It might take some time before we see the best of him.
"It's a big challenge," Owen, speaking to Tribal Football, continued. "It's important now for Iraola to get the best out of these players, as we know they can do it as they have before at previous clubs.
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"So, we have to be patient, but Liverpool do need to improve their attacking threat. It may just take one goal, but it's important for the team to do more in the attacking front.
"You can give Barcola all the confidence in the world, but he is top class. We've seen it before, so if others can also step up around him, it can help him and the team too.
"I'm not worried, we need to get the big players back on the pitch as quick as possible, that's really important and then I am sure they will all click, they are proven top class players and Isak had been in good form, so once he comes back and then links up with Barcola, there should be more from the team from an attacking threat.
"The midfield does need to do more as well, and I'm sure Iraola can see this as well. I thought for 60 minutes, Liverpool was the better team yesterday, but the opening goal and sending off changed the game."