Liverpool's summer signing of winger Bradley Barcola, which involved a total fee of £123 million, has drawn criticism from Sky Sports pundit Paul Merson. The France international has made three appearances for the club under new manager Andoni Iraola since arriving from Paris Saint-Germain, but his early impact has not impressed Merson.
Speaking on Sky Sports, Merson acknowledged Barcola's pace but questioned his overall suitability for Liverpool's tactical needs. "I also like Bradley Barcola, but I'm not sure if he was what they needed," Merson stated. "If you said to me, what's Barcola's game? He's quick. Now, you play at Liverpool, you don't really have to be that quick. You've got to have a bit more. Mohamed Salah, when he ripped it up, had that guile and that is why he was so successful at the club. I think they needed someone with more guile."
Merson also expressed broader apprehension regarding Liverpool's form under Iraola, as the team has secured six points from their opening four Premier League matches. Following a goalless draw with Fulham at Anfield, Merson noted: "I'm worried for Liverpool at the moment, in a way, because that was a bad result on Saturday." He added that the manager faces a significant adjustment period moving from Bournemouth to Anfield, noting the heightened pressure and the current points gap between Liverpool and league leaders like Manchester City and Arsenal.
