Barcola fit but Munoz doubtful as Liverpool prepare for Brighton

Bradley Barcola missed Liverpool training on Thursday, but Andoni Iraola said the winger will be fit for Liverpool’s Premier League game against Brighton this weekend. Victor Munoz also skipped that session and is a concern for the match, while Dominik Szoboszlai has not joined up with the group and will be unavailable for the fixture.

Both Barcola and Victor Munoz were absent from Liverpool training on Thursday; the France international Barcola has been cleared to face the Seagulls while Munoz remains a significant worry and could miss out. Szoboszlai has not trained with the group, according to Iraola, who indicated the midfielder would not be involved this weekend.

“He [Barcola] is fine, no problem, a matter of dealing with the load, stay inside, but he’s fine,” Iraola noted.

“Victor, he has a knock, he could finish the game against Brentford, but he’s dealing with some pain, since then, it’s too early against Villarreal, I think it’ll be difficult, but I don’t know,” Iraola said when assessing Munoz’s condition.

“Dom is going to be out this weekend, I don’t think he’s far, but he hasn’t trained with the group, the way we start the team, he had to go out.”

“It’ll probably take one or two more days than we would. It’s a good place, he plays outside alone, but not with the group.”

Rio Ngumoha supplied two assists as the Reds recovered to beat Villarreal in the Champions League, and Iraola said there were moments when his team lacked intensity at Anfield. “It’s about feeling how they are,” Iraola said when asked about Ngumoha’s usage. “We’re changing a lot the team, we’re playing every three or four days, sometimes the players are tired, more risk involved, we’re deciding to have more rest or fresher legs, we’ll decide, it’ll be the same against Brighton, we have to continue, change a little bit the team.”

No, he is likely to play against them. On 25 Oct, 7:30 pm IST.