Andoni Iraola confirms injury latest on Bradley Barcola and Cody Gakpo ahead of Fulham clash

Can Liverpool complete a perfect week? So far, the Reds have enjoyed wins over Ipswich Town, courtesy of Alexander Isak's brace, and then Atlético Madrid, coming from a goal down to pick up three points in their Champions League opener. Dominik Szoboszlai and Alexis Mac Allister the scorers on Wednesday night.

So now, pointless Fulham will visit Anfield on Saturday, with the Reds seeking to continue to climb the Premier League table. Ahead of the match, Andoni Iraola held his press conference at AXA Training Centre on Friday. One of the key items on the agenda was, as always, injury updates.

Fans are, at least somewhat, worried about the availability of both Bradley Barcola and Cody Gakpo before Fulham's visit to Merseyside, but there should be good news on both fronts, as Iraola confirmed:

"We still need to train this afternoon, but [Bradley] Barcola was just cramps. We have to evaluate but there's no injury he should be available if everything goes normal"

Andoni Iraola on Bradley Barcola

After debuting off the bench at Portman Road, new £123 million signing Bradley Barcola started in a red shirt for the first time on Wednesday. During an hour on the pitch, the French international recorded ten carries, including three progressive carries, and racked up three shots, two of which forced Jan Oblak into a save.

More interestingly, Barcola started on the right, despite predominantly being used on the left all throughout his career with Paris Saint-Germain, Olympique Lyonnais and France. Considering the cameo at Ipswich was his first minute for anyone since the World Cup third-place play-off in Miami on 18 July, it wasn't a surprise to see the 24 year old replaced by Víctor Muñoz on the hour mark.

Nevertheless, it seems as though Barcola will be available to start again on Saturday, but what about on the other flank? It was Rio Ngumoha who get the nod on the left for los Colchoneros' visit, with Cody Gakpo not even among the substitutes.

Speaking to TNT Sports ahead of kick off on Wednesday, Iraola confirmed that the Dutchman suffered an "adductor issue" at Ipswich, adding "we didn't want to risk him" and that "he has a chance" of being involved against Fulham.

Thus, asked for an update on Gakpo's status on Friday, the head coach stated the following:

"Cody we will see. Today we will try with him and let's see if he's ready for tomorrow or we have to wait until the next one."

Andoni Iraola and Cody Gakpo

As he has stated on both Wednesday and Friday, if Gakpo is not ready to go on Saturday, he's not set to be sidelined for very long, more than likely returning against Tottenham in the Carabao Cup next Tuesday. Nevertheless, not having him available would be something of a blow.

The Netherlands international scored the Reds' first goal of the season at St James' Park, subsequently providing three assists, all for Isak. This is despite the fact that Liverpool were actively trying to sell him to Manchester City, a move that did come close to going through. In the fact of this, Gakpo has been, pretty inarguably, the club's most dangerous attacker so far this season.

Nevertheless, against a Fulham side who have been all over the place defensively under Álvaro Arbeloa, shipping three against both Chelsea and Crystal Palace, perhaps it is not worth risking Gakpo if he is not 100% ready to go.

Thus, we could see Barcola on the right and Ngumoha on the left once again, with Muñoz and Lewis Koumas, who both came off the bench in the Champions League, in reserve. The 18 year old scored his first senior goal at Anfield when Fulham last visited in April, hoping to repeat that on Saturday.

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