Alexander Isak missing Liverpool vs Man City could prompt a new role for Bradley Barcola

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Liverpool supporters are still waiting to find out whether Alexander Isak or Cody Gakpo will be fit in time for their crunch game against Manchester City on Sunday.Both players were removed early from national team duty, with Isak struggling with a thigh issue and Gakpo nursing an ankle issue following a heavy challenge from Serbia’s Sasa Lukic.Andoni Iraola has since confirmed that he does not yet know if either player will be ready for the City clash, and while a further update is expected during his pre-match press conference on Friday, Liverpool fans should be ready for news that neither will feature. Photo by Matthias Hangst/Getty Images Given their slight lack of depth in attack already, the absence of his two best forwards this season against City would be a huge blow for Iraola, and would put the spotlight on Bradley Barcola, who is yet to really spark following his £123m move from Paris Saint-Germain.Without Isak, and with a couple of potential alternatives on the wing, though, Iraola could choose to alter Barcola’s role and put him through the middle, which could in turn help to get a little more from Florian Wirtz.Barcola can play centrally against Man CityHaving failed to sign a back-up centre-forward over the summer, Gakpo is nominally Isak’s understudy until Hugo Ekitike returns to fitness.

By removing him from a central position and getting him closer to Barcola, Liverpool will get their two biggest attacking weapons within touching distance of each other while also negating what has become a weakness which City could exploit.Barcola needs a moment to step out of the shadows following his big-money move, and given all the circumstances around this game, this feels like the match for him to step up. It could suit him.Barcola has a good record against CityIt may seem inconsequential to a degree, but it is also worth noting that Barcola has a goal and an assist in his only appearance against Man City during his career.

Putting the spotlight on him as Liverpool’s centre-forward against them this time might not be a bad idea.He was brilliant as PSG beat Pep Guardiola’s team 4-2 in January 2025, magnificently assisting Ousmane Dembele with a trademark sprint down the left after City had raced into a two-goal lead, before scoring a tap-in himself from a central position.While that may be an indicator of nothing at all, it would be helpful if Barcola could draw on his previous experience against Sunday’s opponents and channel it into his performance at Anfield.One of the most interesting things about Iraola’s line-ups this season is that it has been impossible to predict who he will play in the wide attacking areas. But having tried Barcola on the left and right to little avail so far, Isak’s potential absence should see another change of plan, with the Frenchman finally ready to make his mark at Liverpool.