Liverpool remain winless after two draws as £123m Barcola deal nears completion

Liverpool have started the Premier League season with consecutive 2-2 draws under Andoni Iraola, while the club moves to complete a deal worth up to £123 million for Paris Saint-Germain winger Bradley Barcola in an effort to strengthen a reshaped attack.

Liverpool’s 2026/27 Premier League campaign has begun with two points from two matches after another 2-2 draw, this time against Nottingham Forest at Anfield on August 29. The result followed an identical scoreline away to Newcastle United and leaves Andoni Iraola still searching for his first league victory as Liverpool head coach.

Against Forest, Liverpool twice had to recover from behind. Dan Ndoye opened the scoring before Alexander Isak equalised on the hour. Morgan Gibbs-White then restored Forest’s advantage from the penalty spot, but summer signing Víctor Muñoz rescued Liverpool with an 82nd-minute equaliser on his first full appearance for the club.

The pattern closely resembled Liverpool’s opening match at Newcastle. Iraola’s side also trailed twice at St James’ Park before Dominik Szoboszlai converted a penalty in the ninth minute of stoppage time to secure another 2-2 draw. Four goals scored in two games show Liverpool still carry significant attacking threat, but four conceded and two late recoveries have raised early questions about the balance and defensive structure of the team.

Liverpool are simultaneously preparing another major investment in attack. The club has agreed a package with Paris Saint-Germain for Bradley Barcola worth up to £123 million, comprising an initial £106 million plus a possible £17 million in add-ons. The France international was due to undergo a medical ahead of signing a long-term contract. As of the latest reporting, the agreement between the clubs was in place but Liverpool had not yet published a formal first-team announcement confirming completion of the transfer.

If completed on those terms, Barcola would become the second-most expensive signing in Liverpool’s history after Alexander Isak. The 23-year-old has been the club’s primary wide-attacking target this summer as Iraola rebuilds the forward line following Mohamed Salah’s departure. Liverpool have also continued exploring other attacking options, including Crystal Palace’s Ismaïla Sarr.

The scale of the investment increases the pressure on Liverpool to turn possession and attacking talent into more convincing performances. Against Forest, the problem was not simply a lack of forwards: Liverpool again started slowly, allowed their opponent to create dangerous situations and were forced to chase the game. The arrival of another elite winger would expand Iraola’s options, but it will not by itself solve the structural issues visible in the first two league matches.

Liverpool’s next Premier League match is away to Ipswich Town on September 5. By then, Barcola’s move could be formally completed and the transfer window will have closed, leaving Iraola with a clearer picture of his final squad. After two dramatic draws and another potentially record-level transfer, the immediate challenge for Liverpool is straightforward: convert an expensive rebuild into their first victory of the new season.