Liverpool have been handed a transfer update on a £47million star while an issue has been highlighted with one of their current players after their Champions League win
Liverpool started their Champions League campaign off with a bang as they beat Atletico Madrid and now turn their attention back to Premier League ambitions.
It wasn’t all plain sailing for Andoni Iraola’s side on Wednesday evening – and their new £123million signing Bradley Barcola has been slammed for his lack of composure in front of goal by a former Premier League manager, after he squandered two excellent opportunities to net on his debut.
The Reds have also been handed an update on loan defender and new cult hero Ronald Araujo, with Barcelona’s sporting director Deco lifting the lid on his future. And with all that in mind, Daily Star Sport has a look at the latest stories coming from Anfield.
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Bradley Barcola issue highlighted
Barcola has been criticised for his poor finishing in the victory over Atletico.
The winger sealed his £123million switch from PSG late in August, with the two-time Champions League winner regarded as a potential game-changer for the Reds, reports the Mirror.
The left-sided attacker made his bow off the bench in Friday’s triumph at Ipswich but earned his first start against Atleti on the right flank. Barcola lasted an hour before being withdrawn with cramp but should have celebrated his first start with a goal.
He watched an effort kept out by Jan Oblak while also squandering a one-on-one opportunity, dragging it wide of the post. Former Spurs legend Tim Sherwood has criticised Barcola for his lacklustre showing in front of goal.
He told Sky Sports: “No, it wasn’t a good night. He had a lot of opportunities. He looked a threat, but he had a few opportunities bearing down Oblak and he just couldn’t find the finish. He’s not a fantastic finisher, I have to say that. A few sitters he missed tonight.
“The good thing about him is that he stretches defenders. He runs without the ball, so you don’t have to take possession of the ball and dribble. He goes, checks and makes good runs.”
Update on Ronald Araujo’s future
Barcelona sporting director Deco has acknowledged he’s uncertain whether Ronald Araujo will return to the Camp Nou.
The Reds secured the 27-year-old on loan from the Catalan club last month and hold a £47m option to make the deal permanent.
Araujo has appeared in all four of Liverpool’s matches so far this campaign and has impressed at centre-back while also shining when covering at right-back. “Yesterday I was watching the match of Liverpool,” Deco told RAC 1.
“Good assist he made, huh? I was watching the match at home. I think football goes beyond just being a player of ours, right? I mean, to Ronald, I have affection for him, I love him, I want things to go well for him, I want him to succeed and be happy as a person.
“To me personally, he’s a player that I love. For me, at some moment he couldn’t be at his best moment, but I think Ronald has been, until now, his spell at Barca has been spectacular.
“Sometimes ideas don’t coincide, the player’s moment, and sometimes it’s good to look for an exit, that also helps you. I don’t know [if he’ll come back], let’s see, he has a contract with us.
“It’s very early still. He’s a player that we have a lot of respect for and I would tell you plenty of affection, not only us as a club, but also the locker room, so from here, let’s see. It’s a topic for the future.”