Bradley Barcola's Liverpool Journey Stalls Due to Injury

Bradley Barcola’s Liverpool start has stalled almost before it began.

The French winger, signed in the summer to add pace and unpredictability on the left, is already facing his first setback of the season. Three games, no goals, and now an injury that forced him off after an hour in the Champions League clash against Atletico Madrid has halted his momentum.

That knock has ruled him out of Liverpool’s Carabao Cup third-round tie against Tottenham. On the eve of the game, Andoni Iraola drew a clear line under any hopes of a quick return.

“He is not ready to train with the team yet. He is training on his own, but he has started to touch the ball. We want him back as soon as possible,” Iraola said, as quoted by Foot Mercato.

The message was optimistic in tone, but realistic in content. Barcola is back with the ball at his feet, yet still some way from the intensity and contact of full sessions. Liverpool will not rush him.

“He still has some time to recover, and it will take a while,” Iraola added. “With all these long-term injuries, I think Giovanni Leoni has a slight edge over him.”

That last line matters. It hints at the internal battle for minutes once everyone is fit. While Barcola works alone, Leoni edges ahead in the pecking order, banking rhythm and trust in competitive matches.

For Barcola, the task is now brutally simple: get fit, stay fit, and then prove why Liverpool invested in him, in a squad where nobody waits for long.