'The more he plays, the better Bradley Barcola will become', says Andoni Iraola after winger's slow start to the season
The Frenchman was among four Liverpool senior players not spotted in a training session that was open to Sky Sports on Thursday, though it has been reported that he was taking part in an individual programme away from his team-mates.
Barcola has been an ever-present for Liverpool in the league since signing from Paris Saint-Germain in the summer and an update on his fitness will be provided by Andoni Iraola in the pre-match news conference on Friday.
However, with Rio Ngumoha and Cody Gakpo impressing in midweek, Iraola does have a selection dilemma on his hands in the wide areas, but Alexander Isak for Lewis Koumas up front should be a straightforward decision.
Victor Munoz is a doubt after sustaining a minor knee injury in last weekend’s comeback win over Brentford.
That forced the winger to miss out on Tuesday night and it remains to be seen if he’s fit enough for a return as the Reds welcome Brighton to Anfield on Sunday afternoon for their second of four home matches in a row across three different competitions.
Having already beaten Villarreal in the Champions League, Liverpool host Chelsea in the Carabao Cup next Wednesday night before facing reigning Premier League champions Arsenal at the start of November.
Iraola can also hand a recall to Florian Wirtz after he scored as a substitute in midweek, most likely for Trey Nyoni in a change that would see Ryan Gravenberch drop back into a more natural central midfield role alongside Alexis Mac Allister.
Dominik Szoboszlai is likely to sit out the Brighton game with a hamstring injury and Jeremie Frimpong’s muscle issue is set to keep him out for around a month, thus joining Hugo Ekitike, Giovanni Leoni and Conor Bradley on the sidelines.
Predicted Liverpool XI: Alisson; Araujo, Jacquet, Van Dijk, Kerkez; Mac Allister, Gravenberch; Ngumoha, Wirtz, Barcola; Isak
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Injured: Szoboszlai, Frimpong, Ekitike, Leoni, Bradley
Doubts: Barcola, Munoz
How to watch: Sky Sports
Venue: Anfield