Ex-Liverpool star hits back at 'overrated' Bradley Barcola claim in staunch defence of £123m man

Glen Johnson defends Liverpool's £123m signing Bradley Barcola as 'world class', dismissing Emmanuel Petit's claim he was overrated and overpriced.

Glen Johnson has responded to Emmanuel Petit's criticism of Liverpool's £123m summer signing Bradley Barcola, defending the France winger as 'world class' despite an indifferent start at Anfield. Petit, a 1998 World Cup winner, had claimed Barcola was overrated and that Liverpool overpaid, suggesting £60-70m would have been a fairer price.

Johnson, who made 200 appearances for Liverpool, acknowledged Petit's point about transfer fees but separated it from Barcola's actual ability. "I don't think Barcola is overrated. I think he's world class," Johnson said. "I think what Manu Petit is trying to say is that he wasn't worth that money... there's some other players who are really good that are going for half the money."

Barcola has scored just one goal in 13 appearances since joining from Paris Saint-Germain on August 31, though he did net a hat-trick in Liverpool's 6-3 Champions League win at LASK. He struggled in an unfamiliar centre-forward role in Wednesday's 3-2 defeat to Fenerbahce in Istanbul.