Thierry Henry has called for patience over big-money Liverpool star Bradley Barcola. The French forward arrived at Anfield this summer in a £123m move from European and French champions Paris Saint-Germain.
Barcola has had an understated start to his Reds career so far, starting three of his first five appearances while waiting to provide his first goal contribution.
Pressure mounts ahead of City clash
Having seen striker Alexander Isak and fellow forward Cody Gakpo both suffer injuries during the international break, with the pair two of the Reds' best performers so far this season, the pressure will be on Barcola to make more of an impact when club football resumes.
But reflecting back on his own move to England, Henry warned that it will not be easy for his compatriot to make an immediate impact on Merseyside.
Henry's advice to the French forward
Speaking via Betway, he said: “People forget that the tactic, the team and how you play matters. You can see that everyone who comes into Luis Enrique's system shines – Kvaratskhelia, Dembele, Doue, Barcola.
“It's not always easy when you're used to a certain system and a way of playing, where everybody knows what's happening at any time. He just arrived in Liverpool, he doesn't speak English, and it's a different style of play with different intensity in the league.
“I had to deal with it the same way, and then that little switch happened and I was more comfortable. You start to speak English, you can joke around in the dressing room, you're a bit less shy and people start to know what you're about.
“It's not an easy place to start, and he didn't ask for his price tag, but it's on his back. We all know that one-v-one, he is deadly, and he has pace. The only thing he needs to work on is his finishing, but that's normal.
“If you see my finishing when I was 19 or 20 compared to the end of my career, it was so different. I became so much more sure about my game. With winning the Champions League back-to-back, playing for France, with the price tag and the quality that he has, people are not going to wait for him to become the finished article, so he's going to have to deliver.
“There is going to be a level of expectation, and sometimes he is a bit raw in his finishing, but he creates a hell of a lot.”
What's next for Barcola
The forward is next set to be in action for France against Italy on Friday night (7:45pm). Barcola's next chance to impress for Liverpool will come on October 11 at home to Premier League leaders Manchester City (4:30pm).
