Bradley Barcola has just told Andoni Iraola exactly where he wants to play for Liverpool v Man City
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Liverpool’s attack is likely to take on an unfamiliar look during Sunday’s hotly anticipated clash against Manchester City, as Andoni Iraola reckons with injuries to Alexander Isak and Cody Gakpo.Isak and Gakpo have been Liverpool‘s two best attackers so far this season, and the loss of both for what is Iraola’s biggest game in charge so far is a cruel one for supporters to swallow.Nevertheless, it should offer a chance for Bradley Barcola to step up and finally begin to justify his £123m transfer fee. Would you make any other changes to the team too? 👀 Barcola wants to play on the left wingIt has been surprising just how varied Iraola has been in his approach to Barcola’s positioning since he joined from Paris Saint-Germain.
His first appearance came on the left, but his full debut, for example, was on the right.Having spent so much money on him, it had been anticipated that the 24-year-old would mainly play on the left, but just as he does with all of his wingers, Iraola expects Barcola to be able to go just as easily off either wing. While speaking to Liverpoolfc.com to preview the City clash, the France international admitted that, although he doesn’t mind featuring on the right, if he had a choice, he would play on his favoured left side.READ MORE: Andoni Iraola admits he has been playing one Liverpool player out of position for weeks now“He asks me to do what I can do, to play as usual, so I can play on the left and on the right,” Barcola said of Iraola.
“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.”Barcola says he’s adapting more and moreThere have been some initial concerns over Barcola’s early performances for Liverpool, with the former PSG man yet to either score or assist in five appearances. But after he missed most of pre-season with his old club, it was always going to take him some time to adapt.Happily, Barcola has claimed that he is now getting more and more comfortable with his new club, as well as the demands of playing in the Premier League.“Yes, I feel comfortable,” he said.