Liverpool star Bradley Barcola makes big impact in display for France vs Turkey

Liverpool winger Bradley Barcola enjoyed an impressive display off the bench as France beat Turkey 1-0 in the Nations League on Friday.

Kylian Mbappe's goal ultimately separated the sides in what was Zinedine Zidane's first game in charge since taking over from Didier Deschamps.

The World Cup-winning manager left after 14 years in charge this summer, with his replacement providing a clean slate for many of the players who had struggled for opportunities.

Barcola has been a regular for France since his 2023 move to PSG but has never been considered an out and out first choice, having struggled to achieve that status at club level.

His £123million move to Liverpool this summer should provide the forward with the right platform to impress Zidane, however, and he made a good start against Turkey.

Games against Belgium, Italy and Belgium again are still to come in the extended international break, and Barcola will hope to start in at least one of them.

Bradley Barcola's impressive 12-minute cameo

Barcola is yet to really hit the ground running at Liverpool, having failed to assist or score yet following the move.

Yet his display against Turkey on Friday proved that it may just be a matter of time before he explodes into life in the Premier League.

The forward was brought on for Michael Olise with 12 minutes of normal time to play, and was incredibly active down the left wing.

Barcola took a shot and completed six passes, but it was how willing he was to take on his man that really captured the attention.

The winger attempted four dribbles and was successful in two of them - a number only bettered by one player on the pitch.

He made a number of silky movements, taking two touches in the opposition area and being fouled once.

And Andoni Iraola will be pleased to see that Barcola did not ignore the defensive part of the game, either, getting stuck in by winning four duels.

That is not to mention the goal that should have belonged to the winger too. Sent through on goal, Barcola looked to knock the ball around goalkeeper Ugurcan Cakir, who blocked it with his arm and was subsequently sent off.

Andoni Iraola confident on Barcola

Friday's showing will provide Liverpool with confidence that Barcola is getting back to his physical peak.

"Bradley hadn't played a single minute since the World Cup so we needed to be careful," Iraola said earlier this month.

"He is training well, he is in a good place and I think he has helped us. Probably we haven't found him in a couple of situations where he was going in with the keeper and we haven't seen his movement."

"I think [patience] is normal. He hasn't played any preseason, not even a minute and I think he is still in a good place," he added.

"I don't think he will need something like a special build-up but we have to be aware that he hasn't played in a while. The demands for the games are different from training so we have to consider this."