Henry: Liverpool Should Let Barcola Fully Utilize His Speed and Avoid Giving Him Too Many Defensive Duties

According to Foot Mercato, Henry said Liverpool should allow Barcola to fully utilize his speed and dribbling ability.

Liverpool spent €145 million to sign the France international, with his contract running until 2031. Barcola also became the second-most expensive signing in Liverpool's history.

In an interview with Sky Sports, Henry said the real key is putting Barcola in the right conditions so that he can display his main strengths.

Henry said: “For Barcola, the key is knowing how to use him. Can you create one-on-one situations for him? Can you also let him get involved in counterattacks? Because his speed is incredible.”

Henry also reminded Liverpool manager Iraola not to give the French player too many defensive responsibilities, as this could reduce his attacking influence. Henry said: “Does he need to defend more than he attacks? That could be counterproductive.”

Henry believes Barcola has the ability to make a huge impact in the Premier League, especially when he has enough space, uses his speed in attacking transitions, and directly challenges defenders.

However, Henry also pointed out that Barcola needs to improve his finishing ability to reach a higher level. Henry said: “I think Barcola needs to improve his finishing. If he does that, many teams will find it very difficult to stop him.”

Carragher, who appeared alongside him, also praised Barcola's ability to bring a unique quality to the Premier League, while raising some questions about the overall balance of Liverpool's squad.