Barcola's Cramp Eases Liverpool's Concerns After Atletico Win
Barcola scare eased as Iraola reveals Liverpool star only suffered cramp in Atletico win
Bradley Barcola’s first Liverpool start came with a jolt of anxiety, a missed sitter and, in the end, a reassuring diagnosis.
The £106million summer signing, whose fee could climb to £123m, limped off just before the hour in Liverpool’s 2-1 Champions League win over Atletico Madrid at Anfield on Wednesday night, clutching his left calf and grimacing as the medical team treated him on the pitch.
For a moment, the stadium held its breath. Then came the change: Jeremie Frimpong on, Barcola down the tunnel.
Iraola calms fears
Any fears of a serious setback for the French winger were quickly knocked down by Andoni Iraola.
"It's just cramps, especially with Bradley," the Liverpool head coach said afterwards. "We are kind of rushing him as we haven't had him in pre-season."
This was Barcola’s first start in a Liverpool shirt, just days after his Premier League debut – a 26-minute cameo off the bench against Ipswich Town on Friday. The intensity caught up with him, but nothing more.
A huge chance, then a huge let-off
The scare came minutes after Barcola had the moment he will replay in his head.
Slipped clean through by a perfectly weighted Florian Wirtz pass, Barcola burst into space, the Kop rising in anticipation. One touch to steady himself, another to pull the trigger – and the ball skidded wide of Jan Oblak’s right-hand post.
It felt costly. It didn’t stay that way.
Alexis Mac Allister, who has recently confirmed Liverpool do not intend to offer him a new contract, stepped up with a strike that crackled with defiance. Picking the ball up just outside the box, the midfielder unleashed a vicious left-footed drive that tore into the net and put Liverpool in front.
Llorente’s Anfield habit
That goal completed a turnaround sparked by a familiar tormentor.
Marcos Llorente had opened the scoring on 17 minutes, gliding past Milos Kerkez before drilling a low, powerful effort beyond Alisson. It was the tenth goal of his Champions League career. Astonishingly, half of those have come against Liverpool, all at Anfield.
Once again, he silenced the ground. Once again, Liverpool had to claw it back.
They did so five minutes before the break. Dominik Szoboszlai got his name on the scoresheet, but the move will be remembered for Ronald Araujo’s outrageous touch. The defender slipped a deft flick through an Atletico player’s legs, the ball rolling perfectly into Szoboszlai’s path. One composed finish later, Jan Oblak was beaten and Anfield roared.
Frimpong denied late on
With Liverpool ahead through Mac Allister’s thunderbolt, the hosts pushed for a third.
Frimpong thought he had delivered it just before second-half stoppage time, reacting quickest to a rebound and stabbing home from close range. The celebrations barely started before the flag went up. A swift check confirmed the on-field decision: offside, goal ruled out.
No extra cushion, but no late punishment either. Liverpool saw it out.
What comes next
Attention now swings back to domestic business, with Fulham visiting Anfield on Saturday. After that, the European road calls again, with Liverpool travelling to Austrian side LASK on October 14.
Barcola is expected to be part of that journey. For a player Liverpool rushed into action and a fanbase already invested in his price tag and potential, cramp is the best possible news.
