According to a report by GOAL on Sunday October 18, 2026, Liverpool winger Bradley Barcola has opened up about the physical demands of the Premier League, admitting that he suffered from cramps during his early appearances after experiencing the competition’s intense pace.

The French international, who joined Liverpool from Paris Saint-Germain according to the report, explained that English football requires a different level of physical effort compared with Ligue 1, particularly because of the constant running and end-to-end nature of matches.

Barcola acknowledged that while French football is also physically demanding due to the strength and physicality of its players, the Premier League places greater emphasis on covering ground and maintaining a high tempo throughout games.

“The big difference is that Ligue 1 is very physical because there are a lot of strong players who put in heavy impact,” Barcola told Sky Sports.

“Here, it’s more physical in terms of the runs you have to make because the matches go from one goal to the other.”

The winger admitted that adjusting to the relentless intensity was difficult at first, revealing that his body struggled to cope with the demands during his initial matches.

“I find it less tactical than in Ligue 1. It’s a lot of running, and that’s why in my first games I had cramps because the intensity is very high,” he added.

Despite the early discomfort, Barcola insists that the challenge is part of what attracted him to English football. The attacker is determined to adapt to the league’s physical demands and improve his performances as the season progresses.

“That’s also why I came here,” he said. “It’s a new challenge for me to overcome that.”

The French winger will now look to build his fitness and become more accustomed to the demands of the Premier League as Liverpool continue their pursuit of silverware this season. His ability to maintain his pace and make repeated runs over 90 minutes could prove important as he seeks to establish himself in English football.