Bradley Barcola opens up on striker role and ‘very tough’ Manchester City test

Bradley Barcola has admitted Liverpool face a “very tough” test against Manchester City on Sunday as he continues adjusting to life in the Premier League, with the Frenchman potentially offering a solution to the club’s attacking injury problems.

The £123 million summer signing from Paris Saint-Germain is yet to register a goal contribution in five appearances under manager Andoni Iraola. However, with Alexander Isak and Cody Gakpo ruled out through injury, Barcola could be asked to shoulder greater responsibility as Liverpool prepare for the Etihad side’s visit.

Although Iraola has indicated that his wingers could cover the striker position, Barcola says the manager has not specifically asked him to take on a different role ahead of the weekend fixture.

Barcola adjusting to Premier League demands

The 23-year-old has shown glimpses of his quality since arriving on Merseyside but is still working to reproduce the form that made him one of Paris Saint-Germain’s key attacking players.

Barcola acknowledged that adapting to English football has required time, although he believes he is becoming increasingly comfortable with his new surroundings.

“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.”

The winger also highlighted the physical demands of the Premier League, explaining that the intensity differs significantly from the French top flight.

“I think it’s very intense (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.”

His comments underline the adjustment required following his move from France, where his attacking output established him as a significant threat.

Liverpool will hope that continued adaptation translates into improved performances, particularly with key forwards unavailable.

Will Barcola play as a striker against Manchester City?

With Isak and Gakpo sidelined, questions have emerged about how Iraola will structure his attack for Sunday’s encounter.

Barcola is naturally a left winger but can also operate on the opposite flank. His flexibility could give Liverpool additional options as they attempt to compensate for their injury absences.

However, the forward revealed that his responsibilities have not changed significantly under the manager.

“No, not more than that. 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.”

While Barcola did not confirm whether he would be deployed centrally, his ability to operate across the frontline could prove valuable if Liverpool need to adjust their attacking shape during the match.

Iraola is also expected to give Louis Koumas an important role, with Rio Ngumoha and Victor Munoz among the other options available in attack.

Frenchman expects difficult encounter

Barcola recognises the challenge posed by Manchester City but believes Liverpool can draw confidence from playing in front of their home supporters.

The Frenchman expects a demanding contest against opponents he regards as one of the strongest teams in the league, while stressing the importance of the backing from the stands.

“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.”

The fixture offers Barcola an opportunity to make a stronger impression after a quiet start to his Liverpool career.

With the club short of attacking options, his versatility and ability to threaten from wide positions could become increasingly important.

Whether Iraola chooses to use him as a conventional winger or experiments with a more central role remains unclear. What is certain is that Liverpool will need greater attacking output as they prepare for a challenging meeting with Manchester City.