Seven games into the new season and the decision to remove Arne Slot and replace him with Andoni Iraola looks like a masterstroke for Liverpool.

The Reds are unbeaten across all competitions and have injected some much-needed positivity into the camp after a rather drab first summer transfer market for the new manager.

Remarkably, the Anfield side did not improve at full-back, nor did they sign a new midfielder. They did, however, welcome Bradley Barcola to Merseyside to the tune of £123m.

That said, in true Alexander Isak style, he's not hit the ground running just yet after arriving.

Why Liverpool fans don't need to be worried about Barcola

Iraola's side may well have defeated Bournemouth 1-0 on Sunday afternoon but this was not a convincing afternoon for the Reds.

Another big-money signing in the form of Florian Wirtz attracted plenty of criticism again and rightfully so. For how much he cost (£115m), it is remarkable that he is unable to do some very basic things.

Before arriving, he was regarded as one of the finest attacking midfielders in the land but he rather looks like a fish out of water in the physical Premier League.

As a result, there may well be a fear that lightning is striking twice with Barcola. After moving from PSG, the French winger is yet to register a goal or assist throughout his five-game spell so far.

At the Vitality at the weekend, he failed to provide a key pass, had just one shot and didn't complete any of his three dribbles.

It was a tad worrying but there is no need to panic just yet. After all, Barcola is one of the most exciting wingers in the world; a slow start to life at Liverpool is not going to change that.

Lest we forget, it took the great Bobby Firmino ten Premier League games before he scored a goal for Liverpool, so write off an elite player at your peril.

Back in France, the forward was electric. This is a player who scored 21 goals and registered 18 assists in 2024/25. He's a multiple Champions League winner too.

That said, he need to find form quickly. He could be surpassed by one of his teammates if he does not.

Liverpool's homegrown Barcola is set for a new contract

A big criticism of the recruitment in recent years is that the squad building hasn't been good enough. Sure, the Reds have spent lavish sums on some of the best players in the world, but they have neglected key areas; take the fact they ignored the midfield over the summer, for instance.

They have also messed up when it comes to contracts. Over the summer, Mohamed Salah and Ibrahima Konate both left on free transfers. A year prior, Trent Alexander-Arnold left on a free too.

The last thing they wanted was a repeat scenario with Liverpool's homegrown Barcola, Rio Ngumoha.

Reports last week suggested that Arsenal were lining up a move for the teenager but fresh claims from Pete O'Rourke at Football Insider note that there is now a belief he will sign a new contract.

He said: "Obviously, Liverpool are desperate to keep hold of Ngumoha, and the player himself, I understand, is happy at Liverpool as well and is set to get regular starts this season. Liverpool are confident that his long-term future will be at Anfield...there is optimism I think on both sides that they can get this deal agreed."

This should be music to the ears of supporters. Liverpool signed Barcola over the summer but after the contract disputes of recent years, this will likely come as even better news.

The club's recent past is not the only thing that dictates that. The fact is that Ngumoha is one of the best young players in the world right now; he's got the potential to become a genuine world-beater in the years to come.

If Barcola is worth £123m in the modern market, then Liverpool's teenage superstar could well be up there in a few years.

The 18-year-old has only actually started once in the Premier League this season. He's played just 232 minutes across all competitions. Yet, he has shown what a lively presence he can be in top form.

Last term, no player completed more dribbles per 90 (4.64) than the youngster across the entire English top flight. Not even the effervescent Jeremy Doku could trump him in that regard. He completed 4.24 dribbles per 90 minutes. To put that number into further context, Barcola managed just 1.2 per 90 in 2025/26.

Like his new French colleague, Ngumoha is a true livewire. He's the type of player to wreak havoc in the final third. He's a total nightmare for a full-back to deal with.

Now called up by England, he's beginning to make a name for himself at international level too. We saw that on his Three Lions debut against New Zealand prior to the World Cup. He played just 45 minutes but took home the Player of the Match award after dazzling the Kiwi backline. He completed as many as four dribbles in that game.

So, while Ngumoha's end product does need improving, it is hard not to get excited about him rejecting Arsenal to pen a new contract at Anfield.

Given how Barcola has started at Anfield and with Cody Gakpo's future still uncertain, Iraola really needs another winger to stand up and make an impact. Ngumoha looks the most likely to do just that.

The news that he is set to sign a new deal is arguably just as positive as a big-money new signing; that's how good this young star is.