Liverpool secured their first Premier League victory under new manager Andoni Iraola on Friday night, defeating Ipswich Town 2-0. While the win provided a much-needed boost after two opening draws, much of the post-match discussion centred on the debut of new signing Bradley Barcola and the scintillating form of Cody Gakpo, prompting sharp commentary from former Reds defender Jamie Carragher.

Barcola, a high-profile arrival from Paris Saint-Germain for a fee potentially rising to £123 million, made his first appearance for the club, coming off the bench in the 64th minute for Victor Munoz. Despite the significant investment, his debut was quiet:

• 12 touches

• No shots

• No dribbles

• One key pass

According to SofaScore, Barcola struggled to make a tangible impact. Manager Andoni Iraola acknowledged the need for caution with the winger, telling Sky Sports before the match, “I was tempted to start him. He’s looked good in training but he hasn’t played any minutes in pre-season.” After the game, Iraola added, “He had a good minutes, a nice pass on a counter. He’s confident on the ball as always. He’s not had competitive minutes since the World Cup so we have to be careful.”

Gakpo’s resurgence sparks Carragher’s strong take

In stark contrast to Barcola’s tentative start, Cody Gakpo has enjoyed a blistering opening to the season. The Dutch international set up both of Alexander Isak’s early goals against Ipswich, continuing a run of form that has seen him register a goal and an assist in each of Liverpool’s first two league games. This impressive output has led Jamie Carragher to suggest Barcola faces an uphill battle for playing time.

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“Barcola is going to struggle to get a game with this version of Gakpo,” Carragher posted on social media, via X/Twitter. The former Liverpool centre-back went further, proposing a significant transfer decision regarding Gakpo, who was reportedly close to joining Manchester City and Tottenham Hotspur at different points during the summer window.

“The money talked about for Gakpo (is) £80/85M (so) we should sell,” Carragher continued on X/Twitter. “With Barcola arriving he will be a squad player. We need to use that money for a right winger and give the squad a better balance.”

Liverpool’s next challenge sees them return to Anfield for a Champions League fixture against Atletico Madrid, where both Gakpo’s form and Barcola’s integration will be under continued scrutiny.

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