Liverpool pundit Jamie Carragher has warned new signing Bradley Barcola that he faces a serious battle to break into Andoni Iraola's starting line-up following Cody Gakpo's impressive performance against Ipswich Town.
Barcola, the 23-year-old France winger, made his Reds debut as a 63rd-minute substitute during Friday's 2-0 Premier League victory, having completed a transfer from Paris Saint-Germain worth an initial £106 million plus up to £17 million in add-ons. However, it was Gakpo who stole the spotlight, setting up both of Alexander Isak's goals. The Dutch international remained at Anfield despite intense late-window interest from Manchester City and Tottenham Hotspur, who were linked with bids in the region of £80 million to £85 million.
Gakpo form complicates Barcola integration
Gakpo's stellar display prompted Carragher to quickly retract his previous transfer window assessment. The former defender had previously posted on social media suggesting Liverpool should sell the Dutchman for £80 million to fund a right-winger, predicting Barcola's arrival would relegate Gakpo to a squad role. Following the Ipswich victory, Carragher posted a 14-word U-turn on X, stating:
Barcola is going to struggle to get a game with this version of Gakpo.
Iraola opted to bench Barcola for the season opener due to his lack of competitive minutes since the World Cup. Speaking after the match, the Liverpool manager praised Gakpo's focus and commitment, noting that they had been "constantly talking" about the market situation throughout the summer. With Gakpo firmly in favour and Barcola signed to a long-term five-year contract, Iraola now faces a pleasant selection headache on the left flank as he eases the expensive French recruit into Premier League action.
