The European clash between Liverpool and Atlético de Madrid (2-1) at Anfield will have sent the Anfield public through all the emotions. Reds fans first saw Marcos Llorente open the scoring after a quarter of an hour of play before Dominik Szoboszlal equalized just before the break and then Alexis Mac Allister gave Liverpool the lead shortly after returning from the locker room.
Reds supporters were nevertheless left with another concern, this time concerning Bradley Barcola. Established on the attacking front by his new coach Andoni Iraola only five days after his debut under his new colors, the 24-year-old French international experienced a contrasting first European evening in the north-west of England.
Taking advantage of the absence of Cody Gakpo, preserved due to adductor discomfort, the former Parisian showed off his full range. From the 8th minute, the former Parisian stood out with an authoritarian defensive retreat in his own area. And in attack, his lightning accelerations and his deviations in tempo also made the English public shiver. However, the player also stood out for his clumsiness in front of goal, twice coming up against Jan Oblak (15th, 40th) before uncrossing his shot too much during a missed face-off upon returning from the locker room (49th).
Bradley Barcola stopped in his tracks
But while he was trying to adjust the sights, a twist of fate intervened before the hour mark. Stopped dead in his tracks, the Frenchman collapsed while holding his calf, forcing the medical staff to intervene. In an ultra-busy schedule and just nine days before coach ZinĂ©dine Zidane’s first list, the sight of the young striker giving up his place immediately cast an icy chill over the stadium.
The concern was, however, very short-lived. In a post-match press conference, Andoni Iraola was reassuring: “It was just cramps”. More fear than harm for the French clan and for Liverpool: Barcola avoids going through the infirmary.
