Thierry Henry urges patience as Bradley Barcola adapts to Liverpool demands

Thierry Henry says Bradley Barcola needs time to adjust to Liverpool and the demands of Premier League football after his £123m move from Paris Saint-Germain.

The France international joined the Reds at the end of the transfer window following a lengthy pursuit. He has played five times since arriving, starting three matches, but is yet to register a goal or assist.

Barcola, 23, could now be asked to take on a greater role after Alexander Isak and Cody Gakpo were injured during the international break.

Henry, who experienced a move to England during his own career, believes Barcola’s adaptation extends beyond his performances on the pitch.

“People forget that the tactic, the team and how you play matters,” Henry told Betway.

“You can see that everyone who comes into Luis Enrique’s system shines – Kvaratskhelia, Dembele, Doue, Barcola.

“It’s not always easy when you’re used to a certain system and a way of playing, where everybody knows what’s happening at any time.”

Barcola has moved from the environment at Paris Saint-Germain to a different league, culture and footballing style at Liverpool.

“He just arrived in Liverpool, he doesn’t speak English, and it’s a different style of play with different intensity in the league,” said Henry.

“I had to deal with it the same way, and then that little switch happened and I was more comfortable. You start to speak English, you can joke around in the dressing room, you’re a bit less shy and people start to know what you’re about.”

The former Arsenal forward also pointed to the pressure created by Barcola’s transfer fee, while stressing that the player was not responsible for the amount involved.

“It’s not an easy place to start, and he didn’t ask for his price tag, but it’s on his back,” Henry said.

“We all know that one-v-one, he is deadly, and he has pace. The only thing he needs to work on is his finishing, but that’s normal.”

Henry said his own finishing improved significantly over time, rather than being fully developed at the start of his career.

“If you see my finishing when I was 19 or 20 compared to the end of my career, it was so different. I became so much more sure about my game.”

However, he acknowledged that Barcola will be expected to contribute quickly because of his achievements and reputation.

“With winning the Champions League back-to-back, playing for France, with the price tag and the quality that he has, people are not going to wait for him to become the finished article, so he’s going to have to deliver,” he added.

“There is going to be a level of expectation, and sometimes he is a bit raw in his finishing, but he creates a hell of a lot.”