Gary Lineker slams 'odd' Andoni Iraola decision as Liverpool experiment must end immediately
Gary Lineker has questioned Andoni Iraola's decision to use Bradley Barcola as a striker after Liverpool suffered a shock 3-2 defeat to Fenerbahce.
Normally deployed on the left or right flank, Barcola was used as a centre-forward in the Champions League on Wednesday night, and the Frenchman had a night to forget.
The fleet-footed forward registered just one of his three attempts on target, missed two big chances and lost possession six times, while somehow surviving the full ninety minutes.
Gary Lineker questions Andoni Iraola for using Bradley Barcola as a striker
Barcola has produced inconsistent performances since joining Liverpool in a blockbuster £123million transfer from Paris Saint-Germain. A hat-trick against LASK aside, the 24-year-old has registered just two assists in his other 11 matches for the club.
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Andoni Iraola arguably deployed the France international as a centre-forward against Fenerbahce, so he could use Rio Ngumoha on the left and Victor Munoz on the right. Ngumoha continued to dazzle in the Champions League, but it was the 18-year-old who made way for Cody Gakpo in the 66th minute, with Barcola moving out to the right after Munoz was substituted for Alexander Isak.
Gakpo and Isak, of course, combined to put Liverpool 2-1 ahead moments after coming off the bench, though fans questioned the decision not to remove Barcola after the Reds capitulated in the final 17 minutes to lose 3-2.
Lineker was also extremely surprised that their marquee summer signing was used as a centre-forward by Iraola, instead of on the flank, branding the decision as "odd" on The Rest Is Football podcast.
"I thought it was unusual," Lineker said. "(Barcola) doesn't look like that sort of player to me that can play there, so I was surprised.
"I saw Iraola's interview after the match, and he said, 'Well, yeah, obviously he's much better in wide positions, but we wanted to do this, that, and the other.'
"And I thought, 'Well, okay, you bring in a star player for over £100 million, and then play him in a position that he's not really familiar with.' I thought it was a bit odd."
In any normal circumstance, Barcola would have been substituted in the second half following a largely anonymous performance, but his price tag arguably dictated why he stayed on the pitch.
When asked why he used him as a striker, meanwhile, Iraola explained: "At the end, it’s a matter of trying sometimes. We wanted to try with Bradley up front. We considered today was a good day [for it].
“We know Bradley is a winger. He’s more comfortable outside, but I think it’s an option that I think we have to sometimes try.”
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Bradley Barcola promises 'best' is yet to come at Liverpool
Barcola is feeling the weight of his price tag, arguably the same as Florian Wirtz, who has struggled since joining for a whopping £116million last summer.
Fortunately, the electric Frenchman has shown glimpses of his world-beating talents and believes the "best" is yet to come at Anfield.
"No, I don't think I'm at my best yet," Barcola said via Sky Sports. "You still haven't seen the best version of me.
"On top of that, we're working with my team-mates so that they can make the most of my strengths.
"So yes, I think once we really develop that understanding, things will get much better. And I think things are improving all the time.
"People are beginning to understand my style of play much better. I think it's going much better."
A consistent run of games as a left winger, his primary position, can set Barcola up to play a leading role for Iraola, starting with a trip to Crystal Palace on Sunday (November 8).
Topics: Gary Lineker, Liverpool
Thomas Griffin
