After two draws to start the season, Liverpool showed their best by winning at Ipswich last weekend then beating Atlético this week in the Champions League. But the Reds showed worrying signs again on Saturday against Fulham, with a sad 0-0 at Anfield.
However, the Mersey club lined up for the first time at kick-off its attacking trio worth nearly 400 million euros, with Alexander Isak, Florian Wirtz and Bradley Barcola. It didn’t do much, and the former Parisian, for his third match with his new club, will still have to wait to open his goal or assist counter. It wasn’t a good day for his team, obviously.
“I think it was pretty clear what was lacking. It’s the first match since my arrival, I think, where we had difficulty creating chances, scoring goals, making a difference offensively.”noted Andoni Iraola, before playing the fatigue card.
“Our players were tired. There is a lack of freshness, that is undeniable. We cannot deny it. I think this is the worst delay possible, with around 60 hours between matches after a very important meeting the other day. But it will happen again, perhaps with an extra day of difference, perhaps, but it will happen that it will be the same thing during the season, and we must adapt to these circumstances.added the former Bournemouth coach, who will have to get used to these weeks with two matches with the Champions League.
Barcola lacking rhythm
However, the physical argument can be heard for Barcola. Before his transfer at the very end of August, the French international had not played a single minute with PSG, in preparation or in official competition. In the same case as him, Ibrahim Mbaye has so far only played 27 minutes with Aston Villa. “ Bradley is one of those we prepare physically with matches, and the matches will give him the condition we want,”
said Iraola about his recruit.
For the moment, Barcola benefits from a certain indulgence from the English press. The Liverpool Echo, for example, gave him a 6/10 for his match on Saturday, a better rating than for Wirtz and Isak (5/10). It was the starting midfielders (Szoboszlai and Gravenberch) and the left back (Tsimikas) who received a 4/10.
