Bradley Barcola is no Liverpool luxury buy, surprising stat makes him undroppable

Barcola ranks fourth among Premier League wingers in interceptions per 90, averaging 3.9, proving his defensive work rate justifies Liverpool's £106m investment.

Bradley Barcola has justified Liverpool's £106 million summer signing from PSG with more than just attacking prowess. While his pace, dribbling and goal-scoring threat are evident, the French winger is also excelling defensively. According to Data.MB, Barcola is averaging 3.9 interceptions per 90 minutes this season, ranking him fourth among all Premier League wingers.

Combined with his speed—clocked at 35.9 kilometres per hour, the second quickest in the league—his ability to win the ball back and press high gives Liverpool a significant tactical edge.

Offensively, Barcola has recorded three Premier League assists despite averaging just 1.39 chances created per game, placing him in the 49th percentile for creativity. That gap between his assist tally and chance creation suggests there is untapped potential in his game.

His defensive work rate and interception numbers make him difficult to drop from the lineup, while his attacking output indicates he has another level to reach this season.