Andoni Iraola on attacking options against Man City and why Barcola is 'super-valuable'
Andoni Iraola discussed his potential options for attacking positions when Liverpool host Manchester City on Sunday.
The Reds will be without Cody Gakpo and Alexander Isak for the Premier League encounter at Anfield, after they each sustained injuries on international duty.
The head coach was asked at his pre-match press conference how he has been planning to adapt to the loss of the two forwards.
“Even before, we don’t have Hugo Ekitike, who is another very good striker that I’m looking forward to having available also,” said Iraola.
“We don’t have Hugo, we don’t have Alex. We will maybe recover Fede Chiesa but he hasn’t played any minutes. He is recovering from an injury but he has been doing a good job in the international break, he has been training with the small group we had.
“A full No.9, it’s true that we probably only have [Lewis] Koumas right now, but we have some other options. We have some wingers that have played up front in other teams.
“I think we will put an XI with a level enough to compete for that game.”
Iraola was also asked about summer signing Bradley Barcola’s form and whether the current scenario represents an opportunity for the France international to ‘step up’.
The boss replied: “I don’t think he’s in a bad moment – the problem with wingers or strikers is if they don’t score a goal, ‘they haven’t played well’.
“We have to see the games, we have to watch. I said it the first game, against Atletico Madrid, he missed two or three quite clear chances. I don’t care. Honestly. I care but I want him to see [it’s] there.
“With the national team, I have seen he has had a couple of good situations to score; he hasn’t scored, but I want him to be there.
“He is a top player for us. I think he can play in any position up front. He probably has played more as a left winger but has played a little bit as a striker, has played even more as a right winger. I think he can cover the three positions up front.
“He’s a super-valuable player for us.”
