Milos Kerkez on Bradley Barcola’s Immediate Influence at Liverpool
Since joining Liverpool from Paris Saint-Germain, Bradley Barcola has swiftly made a mark among his new teammates. The French forward settled into training sessions at the AXA Training Centre in just a few days, catching the attention of left-back Milos Kerkez as the Reds gear up to face Ipswich Town.
Liverpool started the season with two draws, both 2-2 against Newcastle United and Nottingham Forest, and are eager to claim their first Premier League win. Barcola’s arrival brings fresh energy and adds a new attacking edge to the squad ahead of their trip to Portman Road.
Kerkez Praises Barcola's Talent and Potential
Kerkez shared his thoughts on Barcola’s early impact during training. He emphasized the forward’s speed, skill in one-on-one situations, and room to grow.
"He’s a great player. Everyone knows him obviously. After two or three sessions, you can already see the quality and potential to improve a lot. He can be a really good player," said Kerkez.
"Really fast, good dribbler, so I think he’s going to help us a lot," he added.
Defensive Improvements Alongside Attacking Boost
While Barcola strengthens Liverpool’s attack, Kerkez revealed the team has been focusing on tightening their defense following early setbacks. Liverpool conceded four goals across their opening matches and spent time reviewing video footage to fix errors during defensive transitions.
"For us, especially as defenders, we want clean sheets and the target is you don’t want them to score. We worked to correct those things this week, so I think it should get better," Kerkez explained.
"We had meetings and video analysis for the defenders always. Obviously, we don’t want to come back from behind – we want to start winning from the beginning," he continued.
Ready for the Ipswich Challenge
As Liverpool prepare for Friday night’s fixture against Ipswich Town, the squad is well-prepared for the challenge posed by the newly promoted side. Ipswich have recorded one win and one loss under head coach Gary O’Neil.
Kerkez confirmed the coaching staff has studied Ipswich’s players and tactics thoroughly.
"I think obviously we’re analysing everything, so we will know what to expect from every player, from the tactics," Kerkez said. "Every game we do, we come really prepared."
With Bradley Barcola pushing for his debut and the team working on defensive improvements, Liverpool aim to secure all three points while keeping a clean sheet at Portman Road.
- Match: Ipswich Town vs Liverpool
- Date: 4 September 2026
- Time: 21:00
