Barcola Struggles Against Fulham, Liverpool Defends £145M Signing

Bradley Barcola has yet to settle at Liverpool. Starting for the second consecutive time in the draw against Fulham (0-0), the French winger signed from PSG for £145 million in late August failed to register any of his two attempts on target, completed none of his two dribbles and none of his two crosses in 78 minutes of play.

Pressure is mounting around the Reds’ most expensive summer signing. On social media, several supporters have begun to voice their doubts. “This match showed exactly what I don’t like about Barcola. The talent is obviously there, but consistency and mentality are not. I want my £120 million striker to fight to change the course of the match, not watch it slip away,” wrote one fan. Another was even more direct: “Barcola puts on a horrible performance against Fulham. This guy is going to struggle against the low defences of the Premier League.”

Andoni Iraola, however, refuses to fuel impatience. The Liverpool manager reminded that his player is still in a physical conditioning phase and that the problem extends beyond Barcola alone. “Bradley is one of those we are preparing physically with matches, and matches will give him the condition we want. But it’s not just Bradley, we’re generally lacking freshness,” he said at a press conference.

The club intends to protect its investment by giving him time. Yet the expectations tied to his record transfer fee leave little room for the French international: a rapid improvement is necessary to dispel early concerns.