Andoni Iraola is set to make his Champions League debut as Liverpool’s head coach as the Reds face Atletico Madrid at Anfield on September 9. Here is the latest news surrounding the club, as well as a look at the opposition.
Barcola To Start?
Iraola hinted in his press conference that Bradley Barcola could start after the signee had a solid outing off the bench vs. Ipswich.
“Yes, I think he played overall with extra time, 31 maybe or something like this [at Ipswich],” Iraola said. “I think he’s ready to play more minutes. He has been training quite normally. The only thing is he hasn’t had the pre-season minutes that normally players have. We have to consider this, but I see him in a really good place. I think he can play more minutes, definitely. I don’t see him like limited, no, I see him like a normal player with this circumstance that he hasn’t had a lot of pre-season minutes to build his form. But I saw him playing very well, and I think he is ready to play more, yes.”
A Look at Atletico
You don’t have to look back far to find the last time the sides met in a Champions League clash. In Matchday 1 last season, Virgil van Dijk scored a stoppage-time winner in a 3-2 Liverpool victory. This will be the tenth time the teams have met, with Liverpool winning five times and securing two draws. This season, domestically, Atletico Madrid is 6th in La Liga with two wins and a draw. They are led by midfielder Álex Baena, who has three goals in four matches so far this season.
The Cody Gakpo Question
Cody Gakpo has been Liverpool’s early-season MVP so far with three assists and a goal in three games for the Reds. The only issue is that Barcola also plays on the left wing, and he is a huge talent who also needs to be on the pitch. Which one does Iraola play? My guess is to keep Gakpo on the left and move Barcola opposite on the right, but that leaves Rio Ngumoha and Victor Muñoz on the bench. This very situation is why I questioned the signing of Barcola in the first place.
LFC Globe Verdict
The Gakpo question is a good problem to have, and it bodes well for Liverpool, particularly coming off an impressive road win at Ipswich. The question, as always, will be defense vs Álex Baena. In this instance, I think Liverpool do enough to get the job done 2-1.
Have Your Say
Do you think Barcola should start? Why or why not? Drop a comment below.
Where to Watch
| Kick-off | 8:00 PM GMT | 3:00 PM ET | 3:00 PM ET |
| TV Channel | TNT Sports | Paramount + /TUDN (Spanish) | FUBO TV |
| Live Stream | HBO Max | Paramount+ | FUBO TV |