Cody Gakpo has been left out of Liverpool’s matchday squad for their Champions League clash against Atletico Madrid due to an issue with his adductor muscles, which are the muscles in the inner thigh. Manager Andoni Iraola confirmed the decision, explaining that while it wasn’t a serious injury, the club chose to rest Gakpo to ensure his recovery. Gakpo had been in strong form at the start of the Premier League season, scoring one goal and setting up three others in his first three games. He played the entire match in Liverpool’s 2-0 win over Ipswich Town on Friday, providing two assists to Alexander Isak. Iraola mentioned before the match that Gakpo had felt some discomfort in his adductor muscles after the Ipswich game. He said, "It’s nothing specific and not a real injury, but we didn’t want to risk him. It makes sense to take a rest, and I hope we can get him back for the next game. He might even be available for the weekend match." In Gakpo’s place, Bradley Barcola, who joined Liverpool from Paris Saint-Germain for £123 million, will make his debut. Victor Munoz has been moved to the bench, with Rio Ngumoha starting on the right wing. Iraola explained his decision to start Barcola, noting that although the player hadn’t had much pre-season time, he had shown promise in a recent 30-minute appearance against Ipswich and had been training well. Iraola said it was a good opportunity to give him a chance to play, adding that the team needed "freshness" with Ngumoha and Barcola on the field. Liverpool will face a quick turnaround after Wednesday’s match, as they host Fulham in the Premier League at Anfield on Saturday. The team will need to manage their resources carefully, balancing the need for rest and recovery with the demands of the upcoming fixtures.