Iraola Provides Updates on Barcola and Gakpo Before Fulham Match
Liverpool head coach Andoni Iraola moved to calm any early-season nerves around Bradley Barcola, but left the door wide open on Cody Gakpo’s involvement as Fulham head to Anfield on Saturday.
The unbeaten Reds host the winless Cottagers in a 3pm kick-off, looking to extend a strong start to the Premier League campaign and build on their midweek European momentum.
Barcola scare eased
Barcola had sparked concern when he came off on the hour in Wednesday’s 2-1 comeback victory over Atletico Madrid in the UEFA Champions League, clutching at what looked like a muscle problem after another high-intensity outing.
Given the £123 million fee and the instant impact the France international has made, any hint of an injury was always going to send a ripple through Anfield.
Iraola, though, drew a firm line under that anxiety in his pre-match press conference.
“We still need to train this afternoon, but Barcola was just cramps, he finished the game tired so we have to evaluate but there's no injury. He should be available if everything goes normal,” he said.
No muscle tear, no lay-off. Just fatigue from a demanding night on the European stage. Barring a late setback in training, Liverpool’s record signing is expected to be in the frame to face Fulham.
Gakpo remains a doubt
The picture is less clear with Gakpo.
The Dutch forward missed the Atletico clash altogether after picking up an adductor issue against Ipswich Town last week, and Iraola admitted his status for the weekend remains uncertain.
“Cody we will see. He did not train yesterday [Thursday], so today we will try with him and let's see if he's ready for tomorrow [Saturday] or we need to wait until the next one,” the Liverpool boss explained.
Gakpo’s absence would cut into Liverpool’s attacking depth at a time when he has started the league campaign in sharp form, with one goal and three assists in the opening three Premier League fixtures. His creativity between the lines has underpinned much of Liverpool’s early fluency.
If he fails to make it, Iraola will have to reshuffle again, leaning harder on the form of his other forwards and, potentially, on Barcola’s availability from the first whistle.
Long road back for Ekitike
There was also a sobering reminder of the other end of the injury spectrum.
Hugo Ekitike, sidelined since rupturing his Achilles in April, remains “far” from a return, as Iraola put it. The striker is not expected to fully recover until January at the earliest, though Liverpool have left a sliver of possibility for a cameo before then.
“Hugo, it's difficult with these long-term injuries,” Iraola said. “He's still far. But we had a meeting with all the department to analyse and complete the list of European games and there's a small chance he could play in the last two games of the group stages, but it's too early to say. It's a big injury.
“But if we decided to put him there, it is because there's a hope and a realistic chance he could help us in January.”
The decision to include him in the European squad underlines that belief. It also hints at how valuable Iraola considers Ekitike’s presence once he is finally fit.
For now, Liverpool head into the Fulham game with one record signing cleared, another key attacker racing the clock, and a long-term project quietly edging towards the new year. Anfield will soon find out whether that is enough to keep their unbeaten run intact.
