I think Steven Gerrard understood Bradley Barcola’s situation better than some of the criticism suggested.
When Liverpool signed the French winger, the expectations were enormous. He arrived from Paris Saint-Germain for a reported £123 million, but he hadn’t had the normal pre-season preparation and was short of competitive minutes.
Naturally, supporters wanted to see what he could do. But when those early performances weren’t spectacular, the questions started coming.
Was he worth the money? Was he struggling to adapt? Had Liverpool spent a fortune on another player who needed time to settle?
Gerrard had a much more sensible explanation.
Barcola simply needed more game time.
And after what happened against LASK, I think Liverpool fans have every reason to be encouraged.
Gerrard explained what Barcola was missing
Speaking on That’s Football TV, Gerrard said:
“I think Bradley has come to Liverpool undercooked a bit in terms of game time. He didn’t have the best pre-season because he didn’t play many minutes. Training is important, but it’s the game minutes that get you close to your top level.”
That makes complete sense to me.
You can train every day, work on your fitness and learn the manager’s tactics, but nothing quite replicates playing competitive football.
The intensity is different. The decisions come quicker. You have less time on the ball, and you have to make things happen against opponents who are doing everything they can to stop you.
Barcola was trying to adjust to Liverpool while also building up his match fitness. That was always going to take time.
Gerrard continued:
“I think you’re seeing a player getting close to his level. He’s so fast. He’s so dangerous. He can take players on. He can create and score.”
Those are exactly the qualities Liverpool wanted when they brought him to Anfield.
And we’re beginning to see them.
Then came the LASK hat-trick
Barcola’s performance against LASK was the moment things really started to click.
Liverpool won 6-3 in Austria, with Barcola scoring a hat-trick in a Champions League match that gave supporters a proper glimpse of what he can offer.
It was his first goals for Liverpool, and the way he took his chances was a reminder of the threat Gerrard had been talking about.
The pace is obvious. So is his willingness to attack defenders rather than simply moving the ball on. When Barcola gets running at an opponent, he can force defenders into difficult decisions.
That directness is something Liverpool need.
There will be games when opponents sit deep and make it difficult to find space. There will be others when Liverpool can exploit the room behind a defensive line. Barcola gives Andoni Iraola another way to hurt teams.
His hat-trick also earned him widespread recognition, with Liverpool reporting that he was voted Champions League Player of the Week.
That is quite a turnaround in a short space of time.
The Premier League is the next test
I don’t think we should get carried away just yet.
Barcola has shown what he can do in Europe, but he still needs to bring that same decisiveness into the Premier League consistently.
He went close against Brentford in Liverpool’s 2-1 victory, but he hasn’t yet found the net in the league.
That’s the next step.
Liverpool need him to turn those dangerous runs into goals and assists when the pressure is on in domestic matches.
But I’m much more interested in what happens from here than in judging him on his first few appearances.
Gerrard’s point was never that Barcola should be excused from criticism indefinitely. It was that supporters need to understand the circumstances behind his slow start.
And Iraola has made a similar argument. He explained that Barcola has effectively been completing his pre-season while playing competitive matches, adding that the more he plays, the better he should become.
That is an important detail.
Liverpool signed a player with enormous ability, but they also signed somebody who needed time to get up to speed.
I’m excited to see what comes next
One thing I particularly like about Barcola is that he doesn’t seem afraid to take responsibility.
He wants the ball. He wants to run at defenders. He looks for opportunities to make something happen rather than simply playing it safe.
Not everything will come off. He will lose possession, miss chances and have frustrating afternoons. That comes with playing the way he does.
But I’d much rather see Liverpool’s attackers trying to make things happen than hiding from responsibility.
And if Barcola is now getting closer to his best level, as Gerrard believes, Liverpool could have a very exciting player on their hands.
The hat-trick against LASK was a brilliant start. Now he needs to build on it, find consistency and show that he can produce the same danger against Premier League defences.
Gerrard saw the talent. He also understood what Barcola needed.
More game time. More fitness. More confidence.
I’m not saying the job is done after one outstanding European performance, but I am saying that the early criticism looks a little premature now.
Barcola has given us a reminder of why Liverpool wanted him.
And if he keeps improving as Gerrard expects, I think Anfield is going to enjoy watching him.
The best of Bradley Barcola could still be ahead of us.
Jamie (The Kopite View)
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