Liverpool forward Cody Gakpo is a doubt to face Fulham on Saturday but Andoni Iraola expects Bradley Barcola to be available to make his full Premier League debut following his late substitution against Atletico Madrid in midweek.
Gakpo was close to leaving Liverpool in the summer but the 27-year-old has started the season in excellent form, assisting all three of Alexander Isak’s goals in the Premier League, including both in the 2-1 win at Ipswich last Friday.
The Netherlands international was ruled out of Wednesday’s Champions League win over Atletico due to “adductor issues”, however, after feeling discomfort on both sides following the win at Portman Road last week.
It meant Barcola made his first start for Liverpool since his big-money move from Paris Saint-Germain and the winger impressed with a bright showing before he was removed late in the match due to cramp.
Liverpool will assess both players following training on Friday and Iraola said: “Barcola was just cramps. We have to evaluate how he is today, but there is no injury. I think he should be available if everything goes normal.
“Cody we will see. We will try today and see if he is ready for tomorrow or if we need to wait until the next one.”
Iraola remains unbeaten in his first four games at Liverpool and the Reds arrive into Saturday afternoon’s meeting with Fulham after back-to-back wins over Ipswich and Atletico, but the Basque also believes there is still lots of improvement.
Iraola’s side have scored two goals in all four of their games so far and he said: “The team has goals in it. In all of the games we have been dangerous and created chances, we have scored two [in the last two] and could have scored more. Now it’s about being more efficient.
“So not conceding the two goals against Newcastle, not conceding the two goals against Forest. It’s also when the goals come because I don’t think we’re starting games too well. We [started well against] Ipswich and the games look more comfortable when you start like this.
“I would like to score the fist goal to make things easier, but we have to have the right mentality. We didn’t start badly against Atletico but I think the start of games is one of the parts where I think we can be a bit better. I want us to impose ourselves from the beginning.”