Andoni Iraola, the head coach of Liverpool, has shared some encouraging updates about Bradley Barcola’s condition ahead of their upcoming match against Fulham during the fourth week of the 2026/2027 Premier League season. He reassured fans that Barcola is not injured after being substituted in the clash against Atletico Madrid.
Barcola had to leave the pitch in the 60th minute during Liverpool’s Champions League victory over Atletico Madrid due to cramping. The winger, who recently joined the club from Paris Saint-Germain, appeared to struggle after making his debut in this prestigious tournament. As the team prepares to host Fulham at Anfield this Saturday, Liverpool currently holds the sixth position in the league table with one win and two draws in their season opener.
Updates on Key Players
In addition to Barcola, Iraola provided further updates regarding Cody Gakpo and Hugo Ekitike. Gakpo is still undergoing additional assessments, while Ekitike is expected to require more time before making a return to the pitch. The schedule for the Premier League resumes this week, from September 12-15, 2026.
Concerns regarding Barcola arose when he was forced to exit the match against Atletico Madrid prematurely. The 24-year-old winger suffered from cramps after playing for an hour at Anfield. However, Iraola clarified that the situation does not involve any injury. Liverpool will conduct training sessions leading up to their encounter with Fulham, and the coach expressed hopes that Barcola would be fit for the weekend match.
“We still need to practice. We’re training this afternoon and later tonight. But yes, Barcola only experienced cramps,” Iraola stated. “He clearly finished the game under some tight conditions, and we must evaluate how he feels today, but there are no injuries. He should be available if everything goes smoothly.”
Further Player Reports and Match Preview
As for Gakpo, who participated in the game against Ipswich Town on September 5, he did not train on Thursday, which casts doubt on his availability for the Fulham match. Iraola mentioned that Liverpool would assess Gakpo’s condition during the next training session. The decision on whether the Dutch player will participate will depend entirely on his physical readiness.
“Regarding Cody, we will just have to wait and see. He missed training yesterday. Today, we will try to assess his condition and see if he’s ready for tomorrow or if we should wait for the next game,” Iraola added.
While Barcola’s presence remains uncertain, Liverpool is also dealing with Ekitike’s long-term injury recovery process. Iraola acknowledged that this rehabilitation is lengthy, and it is too early to pinpoint when Ekitike might return. However, he mentioned that there is a possibility Ekitike could contribute to Liverpool in the final two group-stage matches of their European campaign.
“I think it’s difficult for a long-term injury like this; I feel he is still far away. However, we are having meetings with the medical department to analyze when he can return as we finalize the squad list for European matches,” Iraola remarked. “There is a reasonable chance he could assist us in the last two group-stage matches. However, it is still too early to make definitive claims because this is a long-term injury, and much of the rehabilitation process he needs to undergo is ongoing. But should we decide to include him, it’s because there’s hope and a realistic chance he could aid us in January,” he concluded.
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