Click here To join our live coverage.
from: Ipswich Town vs Liverpool
What: English Premier League
where: Portman Road, Ipswich, United Kingdom
when: Friday 4 September, 8pm (19:00 GMT)
How to proceed: Al Jazeera Sports will bring you all the news starting at 16:00 GMT.
Recommended stories
List of 4 itemsEnd of list
Liverpool manager Andoni Airola said Bradley Barcola arrived at the club with the “right mentality” after making clear his desire to join the Premier League club from Paris Saint-Germain.
The 24-year-old French striker became… The second most expensive deal in Liverpool’s history on Monday when he joined for a fee of up to 124 million pounds ($167 million).
The price of the left winger is second only to the 125 million pounds ($169 million) that Liverpool paid to Newcastle for Swedish star Alexander Isak last year.
Iraola, who started his Anfield campaign with two Premier League draws, welcomed the signing of the two-time Champions League winner, saying he would be available for Friday’s match at Ipswich.
“For example, our priority was to sign a very good player in this position,” the Spaniard told reporters on Thursday.
“And I think he also came with the right mentality. I learned from him that he wanted Liverpool so much. He just wanted to come here, and I think that’s a good first sign.”
“And given the player he is and the things he’s won recently, I think he also came with a desire to help us.
“I’m very happy with him and he trained well with us. If things go well in today’s training, he will definitely be available to participate.” [Ipswich]”.
Iraola said a decision would be made on whether Barkola would be ready to start against newly promoted Ipswich at Portman Road.
“He’s in a good place, but we also have to take into account that he hasn’t played in the pre-season games,” the former Bournemouth boss said.
Barkula will be part of Liverpool’s expensive assembled attack that also includes Isak, Hugo Ekitiki and playmaker Florian Wirtz.
The Frenchman’s arrival has raised questions about the future of left winger Cody Jacobo, who was linked with a move away from Anfield during the summer transfer window.
But Iraola said he was happy to keep the Dutchman, whom he described as a “very valuable player.”
Iraola, who replaced the sacked Arne Slott, said he was happy with the club’s transfer deals, including the signings of Barcola, Jérémie Jacquet and Victor Munoz, and was grateful that the summer window had now closed.
He said: “The club decided that the signings we made were the ones that improved our team and improved our position.”
“There were other options that we decided not to take for different reasons. Sometimes it’s for sporting reasons because it doesn’t improve what you have.
“Sometimes it’s for economic reasons – it didn’t make sense for the market to make these moves.
“But I’m happy now because I know what we have. I have a lot of quality in the team. Now is the right moment for us, for the players, for me, to develop what we have.”
prediction
The Opta supercomputer gave Liverpool a 62 percent chance of winning the match, while Ipswich gave it a 19 percent chance.
Face to face
This will be the 75th meeting between the two teams, as Liverpool won 38 of the previous meetings, while Ipswich won only 14 of the confrontations.
Ipswich Town team news
Ipswich have problems in midfield with injuries to Azur Matosiwa and Jack Taylor, while Florentino Luis faces a late fitness test.
Jaden Velojin Bidas is also out with an ankle injury, while Emerson could miss the attack with a knee problem.
Ipswich Town expected lineup
Drinking. O’Shea, Diop, Greaves, Davis; Nuñez, Lukic; Fatawu, Enciso, Maeda; Akbom
Liverpool team news
Hugo Ekitiki is out with a ruptured Achilles tendon. Defenders Giovanni Leoni and Connor Bradley are recovering from long-term knee injuries.
Joe Gomez suffers from a muscle strain, while Federico Chiesa suffers from a back problem.
Liverpool’s expected starting lineup
Alison. Frimpong, Jacquet, Van Dijk, Kerkes; McAllister, Szoboszlai; Jacobo, Wirtz, Munoz; Isaac
