Liverpool's new right-winger confirmed, definitely wasn't the plan

Liverpool have got their new right-winger. That's confirmed but it also wasn't even remotely the plan going forward.

How do you replace a player like Mohamed Salah? You don't. There's no real way to do it and as with all elite-level players, you simply come up with a new plan.

Liverpool did that in the summer by signing Bradley Barcola. They actually planned for it a year early, too, with Alexander Isak and Florian Wirtz essentially coming in to replace Salah's workload with both goals and creativity.

But what about a player who actually plays on the right of attack? Liverpool didn't sign any in 2025 and then even with Salah leaving, didn't sign any in 2026. It was a mad decision and one that left the squad ridiculously imbalanced as it boasted four natural left-wingers and zero right-wingers.

It does seem that Liverpool have found themselves a right-winger, however, and a great one at that. It just wasn't the plan whatsoever.

Bradley Barcola on the right

Liverpool signed Bradley Barcola to be the next best thing to Salah. His data backed that up as a player who could largely do the things the Egyptian did. In fact, there wasn’t a closer fit in European football.

But that was all from the left. The problem is that Barcola, outside of one meeting with LASK, has been unable to contribute that kind of output from his natural position.

From the right, though, Barcola looks like a genuine threat. The Frenchman showed that again on Sunday, switching flanks after half time and ultimately providing the assist for Florian Wirtz’s goal.

Barcola looks more dynamic on that side. He’s capable of going inside or outside and that makes it easier to run at defenders as a result - he can go on either side, after all.

His runs start from deeper as he’s not aiming to cut inside, and we see more of a traditional winger. That’s something that suits Isak, too, as he gets more space and more chances from the extra width.

Barcola also just plays with more freedom. From the left, he finds himself too easy to mark and too easy to crowd out. He positions himself to attack intricate spaces in the box and on the flank, rather than wide open spaces where he can open up his legs.

But again, this wasn’t the plan. Barcola does look better on the right, much as he did against Atlético Madrid earlier this season, even if Liverpool signed him to be a left-winger who provided goals.

Right now, though, his best output is as a pacey creative threat on the right. And if that’s his best fit for Liverpool right now, it’s the role he should play.