Liverpool have responded to last weekend's draw at Newcastle United by agreeing a deal for Paris Saint-Germain winger Bradley Barcola, a player they have chased all summer. The reported £122m capture would add another high-cost forward to Andoni Iraola's squad.
Problems exposed at St James' Park
Liverpool began the match with Alexander Isak leading the line, supported by Cody Gakpo and Rio Ngumoha on the flanks, with Florian Wirtz operating as the team's playmaker. Wirtz was substituted on the hour mark after another indifferent display, while Gakpo, the man most heavily linked with a move away, proved to be their best performer.
The stalemate at St James' Park exposed a lack of balance in the Liverpool midfield, with both Newcastle goals coming on the counter-attack. Questions also remain over their two full-backs, who excel going forward but still have to prove themselves defensively.
Investment in the forward line
The imminent arrival of Barcola, in a reported £123m deal from the Parisians, would leave Iraola with three £100m-plus players in his forward line. That investment comes despite the issues seen in other areas of the pitch.
With Liverpool also eyeing Crystal Palace's Ismalia Sarr, the question remains whether £122m on Barcola is the move the club needs to be making right now.
