Former Liverpool goalkeeper Brad Friedel believes Bradley Barcola should not be judged on goals and assists this season after £123m transfer

Liverpool supporters have been urged not to judge Bradley Barcola purely on his numbers this season as he continues to acclimatise to English football.

Barcola has managed three goals and two assists in 13 appearances for the Reds since making a £123million move from Paris Saint-Germain in late August.

The 24-year-old has been used on both flanks by Reds head coach Andoni Iraola but posted a poor performance when leading the line in the 3-2 Champions League defeat at Fenerbahce on Wednesday evening.

The France international managed 76 goal contributions in 152 appearances for PSG, where he was twice a European champion.

And former Liverpool goalkeeper Brad Friedel has offered a rousing backing of Barcola and is convinced the attacker will prove a success at Anfield.

"When you pay the price tag, you're not at all purchasing them for a resale value," he said. "So I think people will automatically question if he doesn't have a lot of assists and a lot of goals.

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"But I see a player that comes from a completely different league and an incredible side that played a different type of football that you have to play in the Premier League. And I see him each week getting better and better as far as the Premier League is concerned.

"He's a tremendous player. He's a great talent. He has incredible pace and quickness. And if you look at the second goal against Brighton, (Olivier) Boscagli makes a mistake but Barcola was on it in a flash, then used his pace, and then a precise cross to Isak and it was a goal. And that was against a Brighton team that was playing really well.

"So I hope Liverpool fans don't think if he doesn't have this really high goals and assists output in his first season, he's performed poorly."

Speaking to Gambulls, Friedel added: "I think he also has to get used to the Premier League and the physical side of it and the vertical pace of it.

"He was used to a PSG team that would have 75% of the ball every game. This is different. I have liked what I've seen from him, for sure."