Barcola breaks his silence on his difficult start at Liverpool

Bradley Barcola has spoken about his difficulties at Liverpool. After several weeks without commenting as criticism mounted, the France international explained what is making his adjustment to the Premier League difficult in an interview with Sky Sports after a match.

Liverpool spent £123 million to sign him during the summer transfer window, making him the most expensive signing in the club’s history apart from one. At 24, Barcola has so far not produced a level matching that price tag. The harsh assessment of his start has even been summed up by comparing him to a player worth only £12.3 million.

Barcola pointed to the physical demands of English football and the pace of its matches. “The French league is physically strong, but here, I’d say it is more physically demanding in terms of running. The games are fast and open on both sides, the level is very high, but that is also why I came here: it is a new challenge for me,” he said.

His comments explain the challenges he says he is facing, but do not remove the expectations attached to his transfer. Liverpool’s task now is to see Barcola find his feet in the league. A chance to rebuild confidence could come when the club travels to Austria to face LASK in the Champions League on Wednesday. That fixture could be physically less demanding than the Premier League.