Late fitness concerns for Barcola and Gakpo as Liverpool prepare for Fulham
Andoni Iraola has given an honest assessment of his squad ahead of Liverpool’s Premier League fixture against Fulham at Anfield on Saturday, revealing that new £123million signing Pierre Barcola was troubled by cramp and that Cody Gakpo remains a doubt.
The manager said the Spanish club are still building Barcola’s match fitness after the forward arrived from Paris Saint-Germain and had limited minutes in pre-season. Iraola stressed the need to manage how many minutes the youngster can sustain, having only recently begun to find out the player’s immediate physical limits.
“With Bradley, it's about building his physical condition. We don't really know - or we didn't know until now, probably - how much he can play because he hasn't had any minutes in pre-season for PSG. He played 30 the other day [and] today we had some question marks, how many minutes he can give us and probably now we know.”
That reference to Bradley — a squad member listed as injured in the pre-match notes — came alongside clearer updates on those who could affect selection for the 3pm kick-off on Saturday 12 September 2026. The manager is expected to give another update on Barcola ahead of the game, but the options on the flanks are already complicated while Gakpo attempts to recover.
Who could step in if fitness issues persist?
If Gakpo is unable to return to fitness in time, Iraola has alternatives to call upon. The pair of young wingers Getty Rio Ngumoha and Victor Munoz are on standby, while Jeremie Frimpong is also mentioned as a potential right-wing option. On the left, Milos Kerkez, despite suffering cramp late in the Champions League tie, should be fit to retain his place.
- Primary concerns: Barcola (cramp), Gakpo (doubt), Kerkez (late cramp but expected fit)
- Standby options: Getty Rio Ngumoha, Victor Munoz, Jeremie Frimpong
- Confirmed starters likely: Alisson; Araujo, Jacquet, Van Dijk, Kerkez; Mac Allister, Szoboszlai; Ngumoha, Wirtz, Barcola; Isak
Iraola can also name an unchanged back four for the third successive game if Kerkez is passed fit. The central midfield is likely to remain anchored by Alexis Mac Allister and Dominik Szoboszlai, with rotation more probable for the forthcoming Carabao Cup third-round tie with Tottenham next week.
Predicted XI and match details
The predicted Liverpool XI issued ahead of the Fulham match is unchanged in a number of key areas and suggests continuity in Iraola’s selection while he manages new signings' fitness.
| Predicted Liverpool XI |
|---|
| Alisson; Araujo, Jacquet, Van Dijk, Kerkez; Mac Allister, Szoboszlai; Ngumoha, Wirtz, Barcola; Isak |
Injury and doubt lists published before the game name Ekitike, Leoni, Bradley and Chiesa as injured, with Gomez, Kerkez, Barcola and Gakpo listed as doubts. Alexander Isak, who leads the line, will look to add to his three Premier League goals so far this season.
The fixture kicks off at 3pm BST on Saturday 12 September 2026 at Anfield. For supporters travelling to the match, late team news from the manager is likely to determine which wide players are available and whether any last-minute changes are made to the starting XI.
Local impact and looking forward
For Liverpool fans, the management of minutes for recent signings underlines the tightrope clubs walk between fast-tracking talent and safeguarding fitness after summer moves. The handling of Barcola's minutes will be watched closely by supporters eager to see the touted £123million signing make an immediate impact, while Gakpo’s fitness could influence lineup choices through the coming weeks.
Iraola’s selection decisions this weekend will set the tone for a busy period that includes domestic cup commitments next week, and his ability to balance player workloads could be decisive for Liverpool's push in both the Premier League and the Champions League.
