With the £123 million signing showing flashes of his enormous potential but also leaving fans frustrated by what he produced in the final third.
The French winger was handed his first start for the Reds in Wednesday night’s Champions League opener against Atlético Madrid at Anfield. Andoni Iraola trusted the new arrival from the beginning, placing him in a dangerous Liverpool attack alongside Florian Wirtz, Alexander Isak and Rio Ngumoha.
Barcola had already given supporters a glimpse of what he could offer during his substitute appearance against Ipswich, where his pace, direct running and ability to attack defenders immediately caught the attention of the travelling Liverpool fans.
This time, however, the Champions League stage demanded much more.
Barcola was involved from the opening minutes and repeatedly looked to exploit the space behind Atlético’s defensive line. His explosive acceleration gave Liverpool an important outlet, particularly when the Reds attempted to transition quickly from defence into attack.
There were moments when his raw speed caused genuine problems.
But there was also one major frustration: finishing.
Barcola had a golden opportunity after receiving a perfectly weighted pass from Florian Wirtz. He raced into a dangerous position but sent his effort just wide when many supporters inside Anfield were already expecting the net to bulge. According to analysis of his performance, his pace and movement repeatedly allowed him to get into promising positions, but his finishing ultimately let him down.
That missed opportunity quickly became one of the biggest talking points surrounding his performance.
Some Liverpool supporters have already begun questioning whether Barcola can become the elite attacking player the club expects after such a massive transfer fee. Others, however, believe the criticism is premature and point to the obvious qualities he displayed.
After all, getting into those positions in the first place is a major part of being an elite forward.
Barcola’s performance also needs to be viewed in context. He had only recently joined Liverpool from Paris Saint-Germain and had barely played competitive football before arriving on Merseyside. He made his Liverpool debut from the bench against Ipswich just days before being trusted with a Champions League start.
The biggest concern came shortly before the hour mark.
Barcola went down after an acceleration and appeared to be struggling with his calf. Iraola immediately decided to take no chances, replacing him around the 60th minute.
Despite the concern, Liverpool ultimately completed an impressive comeback. Atlético took the lead through Marcos Llorente before Dominik Szoboszlai equalised, with Alexis Mac Allister then producing a powerful strike to secure a 2–1 victory for the Reds.
So, what should Liverpool fans make of Barcola?
The verdict is far from unanimous.
There is frustration over the missed chances, but there is also genuine excitement about his pace, movement and ability to stretch defences. If he can sharpen his finishing while continuing to make those dangerous runs, Liverpool may have a frightening attacking weapon on their hands.
One difficult Champions League night does not define a £123 million signing.
Barcola has already shown enough to suggest there is something special waiting to explode.
Now, Liverpool fans will be watching closely to see whether he can turn those flashes of brilliance into goals, assists and match-winning performances.
