Forget Wirtz: Liverpool Star Barcola is Getting Away With Murder This Season

· GiveMeSport

The Liverpool star needs to improve to justify his Anfield price tag

Liverpool have made a solid, if unspectacular, start to the 2026-27 season, with a feeling that they are yet to really get going in attack.

Seven goals in five Premier League matches is testament to that, with the Liverpool goals coming from Alexander Isak (4), Victor Munoz, Cody Gakpo and Dominik Szoboszlai (all one).

Still, the Reds are unbeaten in seven matches in all competitions under Andoni Iraola, although there is definitely feeling that there is more to come, and there should be after the investment in the attack across the last two summer windows.

Liverpool Attacking Signings 2025-2026:

The Merseyside outfit have spent a lot of money on improving their attack in the last 18 months, and now the onus is on Iraola to get them gelling together and hopefully beginning to produce the type of output that Sadio Mane, Roberto Firmino and Mohamed Salah famously did.

One issue that Iraola can point to is the fact that Liverpool haven't actually replaced the latter following his summer departure, in terms of bringing in a specialist option on the right-hand side.

Bradley Barcola, Victor Munoz, Cody Gakpo and Rio Ngumoha are versatile wingers, but all of them prefer to play from the left and have done for the majority of their careers.

The Reds looked into deals for Crystal Palace's Ismaila Sarr and Brighton and Hove Albion's Yankuba Minteh in the final weeks of the summer window, but they were unable to reach an agreement with either club.

It means that the likes of Barcola and Ngumoha have already been used in the position this term, as Iraola looks to find the optimum setup for his attack.

Inside in the No.10 position, the jury still appears to be out on Florian Wirtz among some Liverpool fans, with the Germany international contributing one assist in six appearances this term.

Wirtz's Liverpool Record

- Appearances: 55 - Goals: 7 - Assists: 11

It's fair to say that the 23-year-old isn't showing the required consistency given his price tag, even if he is showing glimpses of his quality in certain matches.

The Anfield faithful need to see more from him, and they will hope his positive performances for his country under Jurgen Klopp during the international break will be the catalyst for an upturn in his Liverpool career.

There was a lot of excitement when Liverpool completed the signing of their newest £100m+ player this summer, but it feels like we are still waiting to see the real Barcola in the 2026-27 season.

The world-class France international was impressive for Paris Saint-Germain last term before netting three times at the 2026 World Cup for his country, including one in the crazy third-place playoff tie against England.

Bradley Barcola for PSG Last Season

- Appearances: 49 - Goals: 13 - Assists: 7

The 24-year-old has since made nine appearances for Liverpool and France this term, without contributing a goal or an assist, with his stats not particularly great for the Reds.

Of course, it is early days and in his 248 minutes in a red shirt there are no red flags to suggest he will go on to become a major flop, but at the same when you cost more than £100m there is extra pressure to produce goal contributions as an attacking player, as we have seen from Wirtz.

Barcola in the Premier League

- Appearances: 3 - Starts: 2 - Minutes: 170 - Shots (on target): 2 (1) - Goals: 0 - Assists: 0 - xA (expected assists): 0.13 - Passing accuracy: 76.7% - Successful dribbles: 1/7

From what we've seen from Barcola at PSG and for his country previously, the ability and quality is there, but now he needs to start showing he can be as influential as some of the best Liverpool attackers who have preceded him at Anfield.

His first goal could change everything, and he will hope to get it when the Merseyside outfit host Manchester City this weekend.

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