Barcola describes adapting to Liverpool and the differences from Ligue 1

A 24-year-old French player scored the first hat-trick of his career on Wednesday as Liverpool beat LASK Linz 6-3 in the Champions League. The performance drew attention across Europe. In an interview with “Téléfoot”, Bradley Barcola, meanwhile, described an adjustment to life at Liverpool that is still ongoing.

The Frenchman joined the Reds in the last summer transfer window after three seasons at Paris Saint-Germain. He said his current experience is markedly different from what he knew in the French capital. “I’m trying to adapt, because things are completely different from what they were at Paris Saint-Germain,” he said.

That adjustment comes as his Premier League start contrasts with his performances on the European stage: Barcola had no attacking contribution in his first four matches in the English league. He is still waiting to show his usual level in the competition, without suggesting that this process is complete.

Barcola also believes the two leagues demand different tactical reference points. “The English league is different, and I think it depends less on tactics. At Paris Saint-Germain, we also had a coach who attached enormous importance to tactical details,” he explained. He added that he sees fewer positional changes in England. Under Luis Enrique, he said, he sometimes had to move inside before returning to the wing; at Liverpool, “things are completely different”.

His role on the pitch reflects that change: at Liverpool, the French player focuses more on the left side, with different movements and responsibilities. A few days earlier, Barcola had also discussed the physical and tactical differences between Ligue 1 and its English counterpart in an interview with “Sky Sports”.

The player nevertheless described his integration as progressing well. “Things are going well, I’ve been able to get to know my teammates, and we also have a very good coach with remarkable ideas,” he added. His comments point to two realities at once: an integration he views positively and an attacking return in the Premier League that had yet to arrive in his first four matches.