Liverpool supporters have been given a reassuring update after Bradley Barcola was noticeably absent from Thursday’s team training session, with a Sky Sports reporter explaining the reason behind his absence.
The French winger, who joined Liverpool from Paris Saint-Germain for a reported £106 million in late August, has featured in all nine matches played by the Reds since his arrival. He has started six games and played a significant role in the team’s recent fixtures.
However, after coming on as a late substitute in Tuesday’s victory over Villarreal, Barcola was missing when Liverpool returned to training on Thursday, raising questions about his fitness ahead of the weekend’s clash.
🗣️ SKY SPORTS REPORTER REVEALS THE REASON
Speaking live on Sky Sports News, Merseyside reporter Vinny O’Connor explained that Barcola was completing an individual recovery session rather than training with the rest of the squad.
According to the reporter, Liverpool have been assured that the winger’s absence was related to recovery, easing immediate fears of a fresh injury setback.
Victor Munoz, Jeremie Frimpong and Dominik Szoboszlai were also absent, alongside long-term injury concerns Hugo Ekitike, Conor Bradley and Giovanni Leoni.
⚽ WHY LIVERPOOL ARE BEING CAREFUL WITH BARCOLA
Barcola has endured a demanding schedule in recent weeks. After spending seven weeks without playing following the World Cup, he went on to feature in 13 consecutive matches for club and country over approximately six and a half weeks.
During that period, he accumulated 690 minutes on the pitch, making Liverpool’s decision to manage his workload understandable.
The Reds have a few extra days to recover before facing Brighton on Sunday, giving the squad valuable time to prepare after a hectic run of four matches in just 10 days.
🔴 WILL BARCOLA BE READY FOR BRIGHTON?
Liverpool will be hoping their £106 million signing is available for the weekend encounter against Brighton, a side that has often proved difficult to handle at Anfield.
For now, the update points towards recovery rather than a confirmed new injury. However, his availability for Sunday has not been officially guaranteed.
Liverpool fans will be watching closely for further updates ahead of the Brighton clash. 👀🔴
