Andoni Iraola provides Bradley Barcola injury update

Andoni Iraola provides Bradley Barcola injury update Andoni Iraola Gives Bradley Barcola Fitness Update After Liverpool Win Liverpool have a quick turnaround, and the immediate concern after the win over Atletico Madrid was simple, Bradley Barcola’s condition. The summer signing, who arrived from Paris Saint-Germain for £123 million, was making his full debut and left the pitch after an hour following treatment. That tends to trigger noise. Andoni Iraola shut it down quickly. It had not. What it did show is where Barcola currently is physically. Iraola admitted Liverpool were managing uncertainty around the winger’s load after a disrupted summer. “With Bradley, it’s about building his physical condition. 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. “He played 30 the other day [and] today we had some question marks, how many minutes he can give us and probably now we know.” That is the real takeaway. Liverpool bought a high-level attacker, but match rhythm cannot be transferred in a fee. It has to be built. This was a first proper test, and while it ended early, it still gave Iraola useful data. Barcola showing right signs Barcola did not score, but Iraola was encouraged by what mattered most, his movement and chance generation. “I’m very happy because also he has had two very clear chances against the ‘keeper. He hasn’t scored, but I want him there. The Liverpool head coach was clear. “No, it is cramp. It is just cramp, there is no injury,” he said after the match. That matters, because Liverpool are back at Anfield this weekend against Fulham and there was obvious concern that Barcola’s first proper outing had ended with a setback. “There is where he has to make the difference, arriving to those spots, those positions, and I’m very happy because in – I don’t know how many minutes he’s played – two times against the ‘keeper is a good sign with Bradley.” That is blunt and fair. Forwards are judged on end product, but managers look first at repeatable actions. Getting into decisive areas twice on a full debut, without full sharpness, is useful evidence. Iraola will take that. Milos Kerkez also came off late after receiving treatment. Again, no drama. “Milos and Bradley were just cramping [and] were just tired,” Iraola added. “I think I always want to do subs because of this, because you’ve given everything, you don’t have any more, perfect. “We do the subs, not because you haven’t run and I have to sub you. So, I prefer when you’ve done everything you can and then we sub you because you cannot run anymore.” Cody Gakpo remains Fulham doubt The less certain update concerns Cody Gakpo. He missed the Atletico game with an adductor issue and remains a doubt for Fulham. Iraola did not overstate it, but he did not offer certainty either. “I don’t know [if he will be back for Fulham]. 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,” Iraola revealed. That sounds manageable, but timing is the problem. Liverpool have little time to recover and reset before the next fixture. Iraola made that plain enough. “We expected to have him for today, [but] it hasn’t been possible. It’s not a big thing, but the problem is we play here [again] in two days and a half. “I think now is a moment of recovery in these two days. Let’s see how Bradley has finished, how Cody is [and] if he can give us some minutes. If not, Rio, Victor, I think today everyone has done a big effort. “We need to recover, we need to regroup and think because in two days and a half we play again here [against] Fulham, it’s a very important game again for us. So, I hope we can have Cody with us, but I cannot guarantee it.” Fulham selection now about recovery So the situation is straightforward. Barcola is not injured. Kerkez is not a major concern. Gakpo is the one to watch. Liverpool have opened their Champions League campaign with a win, but the next question is about availability, energy and how much Iraola can ask from players still building fitness. In September, that is often what decides the team sheet more than anything else.