He hasn't played - Andoni Iraola urges patience with Bradley Barcola after Liverpool debut

Liverpool manager Andoni Iraola believes Bradley Barcola showed encouraging signs on his first appearance for the Reds but insists the club's record signing will need time to fully settle into his new surroundings.

The French winger made his first appearance for the Reds during Friday night's 2-0 Premier League victory over Ipswich Town, coming off the bench for the final 26 minutes.

While Barcola's debut offered glimpses of the quality that convinced Liverpool to invest heavily in him, Andoni Iraola believes patience will be essential as the 24-year-old adapts to his new teammates and playing style.

Barcola joined Liverpool from Paris Saint-Germain in a blockbuster deal reportedly worth up to £123 million, making him one of the club's biggest-ever signings.

Although he only featured in the closing stages against Ipswich, Iraola felt the winger's movement and creativity were immediately evident.

“I think he had good minutes. I think he has a very good pass,” the Liverpool manager told Sky Sports after the match.

Despite the positive debut, Iraola admitted there were moments when Liverpool's attackers failed to spot Barcola's intelligent movement.

He added, “In a counter, a couple of times we didn't find him, so we will have to learn these kinds of movements because he will be in behind, threatening all the time.”

Iraola also revealed that Liverpool will carefully manage the Frenchman's workload as he works his way back to full match sharpness.

Barcola had not played a competitive club match since returning from international duty following the World Cup, making his gradual introduction a deliberate decision.

He said, “He hasn't played any competitive minutes since the World Cup, so we have to be a little bit more careful. I think he has been very good.”