Andoni Iraola's ploy to try Bradley Barcola up front against Fenerbahce didn't quite work for Liverpool, but the Reds' boss is not ruling out revisiting the idea in the future
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 12: Andoni Iraola, Manager of Liverpool, speaks to Bradley Barcola during the Premier League 2026/27 match between Liverpool FC and Fulham at Anfield on September 12, 2026 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by Matt McNulty/Getty Images)
Andoni Iraola has explained his decision to play Bradley Barcola up front against Fenerbahce(Image: Getty Images)
Andoni Iraola has made it clear that Bradley Barcola will play as a winger for the majority of his time at Liverpool - although he hasn’t ruled out playing him up front again.
Barcola was utilized as the frontman against Fenerbahce in midweek as Alexander Isak was afforded a rest. It wasn’t the first time the French international has fulfilled the role, having also done so during his time at Paris Saint-Germain.
However, the experiment didn’t really work, with Barcola struggling to make any impact on the game as the No.9, while Isak scored within moments of being introduced as a substitute.
Barcola’s performance has led to calls for the 24-year-old to not be used up front again, although Iraola is not necessarily against the idea - or using any of his other wingers up front for that matter.
“Bradley is a winger,” Iraola said during his pre-match press conference ahead of the weekend’s clash with Crystal Palace.
“Mostly, he has played as a left-winger, sometimes as a right-winger, but has also played at PSG as a striker, and it’s something that I wanted to try.
Liverpool winger Bradley Barcola.
Bradley Barcola struggled up front against Fenerbahce(Image: Marco Steinbrenner/DeFodi via Getty Images)
“I thought against the center-backs he could be a threat, especially in behind. But he is a winger and he will be, mostly, 90 percent of the time, used as a winger.
“It’s an alternative that I sometimes I want to try. I tried with Cody [Gakpo] against Chelsea in the Carabao Cup, and maybe not from the beginning, but it’s true during the games, I think it’s an option we can use when Alex [Isak] is tired and we need another type of striker, we can use the other strikers we have, but also the wingers can do a job there."
Isak currently remains Liverpool’s only senior option up front, with Hugo Ekitike still out injured, so it perhaps comes as no surprise that Iraola would be wary of overloading him.
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“Alex is a top goalscorer,” Iraola said of the striker. “We know if we can put him in the position to score, he will deliver. It is not a guarantee, but the closest thing to a guarantee almost.
“Like every player, he can add more things to his game, but we want to use the things that he has. He’s very good at attacking the spaces, attacking the channels, I think he’s technically clean. We are trying to use him in the best way.”
While Isak has already bettered his tally from an injury-ravaged first season at Liverpool - with seven goals to his name so far - Iraola wants to see more from the rest of his team, having felt that his squad has been playing it too safe at times.
Alexander Isak scored for Liverpool against Fenerbahce to make it seven goals for the season
Alexander Isak scored for Liverpool against Fenerbahce to make it seven goals for the season (Image: Yagiz Gurtug/PS Images/MB Media/Getty Images)
“It has been a strange season. In the Champions League, we are scoring a lot and conceding a lot in, but in the Premier League we are scoring less and conceding less. Obviously we want to score a lot and concede less, so that’s the challenge we have,” Iraola explained.
“I think it’s a matter of controlling the games, but also sometimes, for example the other day against Fenerbahce, I think we were controlling the game sometimes too much.
“Sometimes we are in possession, we are having good positions, we are arriving, but sometimes we have to throw numbers inside the box, arrive with more players. I twill take a little bit of control (away), but will give us more threat at the times we arrive. Especially against Arsenal, the way we attack the box has to be better.”