The Liverpool attack against Fulham could look significantly different on Saturday after manager Andoni Iraola provided updates on Bradley Barcola and Cody Gakpo following the Reds’ Champions League victory over Atletico Madrid.
Liverpool came from behind to beat Atletico 2-1 at Anfield, making a winning start to their Champions League campaign, but the victory came with fitness concerns surrounding two important attacking players.
Barcola, Liverpool’s £123m (€140m, $161m) signing, made his first senior start for the club but was substituted after 60 minutes, with Victor Munoz coming on in his place.
Gakpo, meanwhile, missed the Atletico game after suffering what Iraola described as minor problems with both adductors during Liverpool’s previous match at Ipswich.
With Liverpool scheduled to face Fulham again within days, Iraola suggested he could rotate his forwards and potentially hand Rio Ngumoha and Victor Munoz important roles.
Iraola provides Bradley Barcola fitness update
The Bradley Barcola fitness situation appears less serious than initially feared, with Iraola confirming that the winger’s early withdrawal against Atletico was precautionary.
Barcola had not played any minutes during pre-season with Paris Saint-Germain before joining Liverpool, meaning the club is carefully managing his workload.
“With Bradley, it’s about building his physical condition,” Iraola said.
“We don’t really know – or we didn’t know until now, probably – how much he can play because he hasn’t had any minutes in pre-season for PSG.”
The French forward had already played 30 minutes in an earlier appearance, and Iraola said the Atletico match provided Liverpool with a better indication of his current physical capacity.
“He played 30 the other day [and] today we had some question marks about how many minutes he can give us and probably now we know,” the manager explained.
Iraola later confirmed that the problem was simply cramp.
“It’s just cramps, especially with Bradley,” he said.
The Liverpool boss also admitted that the club was pushing Barcola carefully because of his lack of pre-season football.
“We’re kind of rushing him a little bit because he hasn’t played any minutes in pre-season,” Iraola said.
“We want him there, but at the end we decided today, ‘OK, give us whatever you have’.”
Iraola refuses to rush Barcola
Despite Barcola’s impressive involvement, Iraola made it clear that Liverpool cannot expect the winger to immediately play full matches.
“I don’t think he [Barcola] can probably finish a game [yet]; we’ll see how he does, but we need some freshness,” he said.
The manager believes Liverpool can benefit from having different options available on the wings, particularly as the demanding early-season schedule begins to take its toll.
“Especially outside with Rio and Bradley, I think we can find these difference-makers,” Iraola added.
The comments strongly suggest that Barcola’s minutes will continue to be managed rather than risk turning a minor physical issue into a significant injury.
Cody Gakpo injury update gives Iraola another concern
The Cody Gakpo injury update was less definitive, with Iraola admitting that he was unsure whether the Netherlands international would be fit to face Fulham.
Gakpo finished Liverpool’s previous match at Ipswich with problems affecting both adductors.
“I don’t know [if he will be back],” Iraola said.
“I hope so, but I don’t know. He doesn’t have a proper injury, but he finished with niggles in both of the adductors the other day.”
The manager revealed that Liverpool had expected Gakpo to be available against Atletico but decided against taking the risk.
“We expected to have him for today, [but] it hasn’t been possible,” Iraola said.
“It’s not a big thing, but the problem is we play here in two days and a half.”
He added: “I think now is a moment of recovery in these two days.”
Speaking separately to TNT Sports, Iraola offered slightly more encouragement about Gakpo’s chances of returning quickly.
“Cody finished the game the other day [at Ipswich] with some adductor issues. Both sides, nothing specific, not a proper injury,” he said.
“But we didn’t want to risk him; I think it makes sense.”
“He gets rest; I hope we can recover him if not for the weekend, then the next one. But I think even for the weekend he has a chance to be there, yes.”
Iraola hints at Liverpool attacking changes against Fulham
The combination of Barcola’s limited match fitness and Gakpo’s adductor problem could force changes to the Liverpool attack against Fulham.
Iraola indicated that he would assess both players before deciding on his starting forwards.
“Let’s see how Bradley has finished, how Cody is [and] if he can give us some minutes,” Iraola said.
“If not, [we will go with] Rio [Ngumoha], Victor [Munoz]. I think today everyone has made a big effort.”
That statement points towards a possible new-look attacking combination against Fulham, particularly if Gakpo is unable to recover in time.
The manager will also have to consider the physical demands of playing multiple matches in a short period, with Liverpool needing freshness as well as attacking quality.
Ngumoha and Munoz could get their opportunity
Rio Ngumoha and Victor Munoz could therefore become particularly important options for Liverpool.
Munoz already came on for Barcola against Atletico, while Ngumoha provides another young attacking option capable of giving Liverpool greater energy on the flanks.
Iraola’s comments suggest he is willing to trust the squad rather than overwork players who are not yet at full fitness.
That could make the Fulham match an important opportunity for Liverpool’s attacking depth to prove its value.
Steven Gerrard praises Liverpool tactical change
Liverpool’s attacking selection was not the only talking point following the Atletico victory.
Steven Gerrard praised Andoni Iraola Liverpool tactics after the manager made an important adjustment at half-time that helped Liverpool regain control of the game.
Gerrard believed Liverpool had been too open during the first half and allowed Atletico too much space.
“Very good, very positive. Better second half,” Gerrard told TNT Sports.
“I thought they were a little bit open in the first 45 minutes. I thought they were pressing in ones and twos; there was too much space on the pitch.”
Gerrard said Atletico had been able to exploit those spaces and play through Liverpool during the opening period.
“I thought Atletico hurt them at times and played through them,” he added.
But he credited Iraola with correcting the problem during the interval.
“But the manager definitely affected this team and this performance at half-time,” Gerrard said.
“He got them pressing collectively together; there was less space.”
Steve McManaman backs Gerrard’s assessment
Former Liverpool player Steve McManaman also praised the tactical adjustment.
“What the manager did wonderfully well in the second half is tell them at half-time to close down,” McManaman said.
“They were more collective; they pressed together instead of singular and getting passed through all the time.”
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The change prevented Atletico from creating the same level of danger after the interval.
“And Atletico really didn’t make that many chances in the second half; they weren’t as dangerous,” McManaman said.
“They had some of the ball, but they weren’t as dangerous as in the first half.”
His conclusion was emphatic: “I thought Liverpool ran out comfortable winners in the end.”
The tactical improvement will give Iraola encouragement ahead of the Liverpool vs Fulham clash, but the manager’s biggest immediate decision could concern the players at the other end of the pitch.
If Barcola needs another carefully managed appearance and Gakpo fails to recover, Liverpool may have to rely on their younger attacking options to maintain their momentum.
For Iraola, the challenge is therefore twofold: preserve the attacking intensity that helped Liverpool overcome Atletico while ensuring that Barcola and Gakpo are not rushed back before they are ready.
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