Andoni Iraola sends warning to Liverpool wingers after Bradley Barcola move

Andoni Iraola has warned his wingers will have to get used to lining up on both flanks after restoring Bradley Barcola to his favoured left wing against Fulham. The France international had started on the right for his full debut against Atletico Madrid in midweek, with the Liverpool head coach continuing to rotate his wide options during the early weeks of the season.

Cody Gakpo, Victor Munoz and Rio Ngumoha have also all been utilised on both flanks so far this season.

And with the quartet admittedly all favouring playing on the left, Iraola admitted such rotation will continue on the flanks throughout the season as he explained his reasoning behind such a decision.

“I think we have four wingers where probably if you, before the season, and everyone will say are more left-wingers than right-wingers because they play more there,” he said. “And everyone, all the wingers will play on the right and will play on the left.

“Depending on the match-ups, depending where we think they are going to be more dangerous, depending sometimes on the defensive demands, depending what we feel, what we analyse, we position them on the right or in the left.

“But I think Bradley, I think everyone, the four of them already have played both sides and it's going to be like this for all of the season because the wingers have the same preferences a lot of the time.

Meanwhile, Iraola was pleased with Barcola’s performance as Liverpool continue to build up the France international’s physical condition following a lack of game-time throughout pre-season.

“I think with Bradley now we are building up his physical condition because he hasn't had any minutes in pre-season,” he said. “And I think there is a good part where today he played a little bit more than three days ago against Atletico Madrid.

“He had a good chance, second post, they blocked the shot, but he arrived well.

“Probably, we know he has more, he has more, but now it's about giving him the minutes, keep building his confidence also. And he's a player that is going to give us a lot.”

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