Liverpool regrets with Barcola

The Liverpool transfer market is beginning to question the performance of Bradley Barcola, who was signed from PSG for 125 million euros last summer. The French winger acknowledges that he has not yet reached his best level at Anfield, while comparisons with Mohamed Salah grow, along with doubts about his adaptation to the Premier League.

Liverpool demands more from Barcola after his signing from PSG

The main problem is the relationship between the cost of the operation and the offensive production. Barcola, 23, arrived at Anfield on August 31, 2026, for a fixed fee of 106 million pounds, with variables that could raise the agreement to 123 million pounds. He signed a five-season contract, until 2031.

His debut was below expectations: he neither scored nor assisted during his first 10 matches of the season with club and country. He then reacted with a hat-trick against LASK in the Champions League and two consecutive assists against Brighton and Brentford. This improvement offers reasons for patience, although he still needs to maintain it against higher-caliber rivals.

The most recent European stumble does not help. On November 4, Liverpool lost 3-2 to Fenerbahçe in Istanbul, ending their perfect run in the Champions League. Barcola started in a match where the English team conceded the decisive goal in the 79th minute.

Coach Andoni Iraola has already publicly defended the Frenchman and Florian Wirtz against criticism regarding their adaptation. The coach believes that performance should not be judged solely by goals and assists, especially when the team is still adjusting its offensive mechanisms.

🚨 Bradley Barcola on comparisons with Mo Salah due to high fee paid: “I wasn’t the one who decided the transfer fee, so that’s not been a problem for me!”. “Mohamed Salah, he’s a legend here. A huge one. He’s done big things here and for that I have an enormous respect for him. But it’s not pressure for me at all. I’m not Mohamed Salah”, told @SkySportsPL.

— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) November 4, 2026

Mohamed Salah is not the reference Barcola wants to emulate

The comparison with Mohamed Salah has followed the signing since his arrival. The Egyptian left Liverpool in the summer of 2026 after becoming one of the most decisive players in its recent history, which is why the new winger has taken on a leading role in the reconstruction of the attack.

In an interview with Sky Sports on November 4, Barcola explained that he respects Salah's career, but wants to build his own football identity. He does not believe he should replicate the figures or style of the previous offensive reference of the team.

The Frenchman also addressed his departure from PSG, where he won the Champions League in the last two seasons he played with the Parisian team. He explained that he needed to start a new chapter after several years in France, despite the relationship he had built with his teammates.

Adaptation to the Premier League and the connection with his new teammates will be crucial in the coming months. The immediate schedule offers another chance to improve his numbers: Liverpool will visit Crystal Palace on November 8, following the European defeat.

The club needs Barcola to turn his first signs of recovery into regular production. His price and Salah's departure elevate the attention on every performance, but the upcoming matches will reveal whether Liverpool starts to capitalize on the investment or if doubts regarding the signing continue to grow.

This is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, El Liverpool se arrepiente con Barcola