Cody Gakpo is a doubt for Liverpool’s match against Fulham on Saturday, but Andoni Iraola expects Bradley Barcola to be fit enough to make his full Premier League debut after being taken off late against Atletico Madrid in midweek.

Gakpo came close to leaving Liverpool during the summer, but the 27-year-old has begun the season in outstanding form, setting up all three of Alexander Isak’s Premier League goals, including both in last Friday’s 2-1 victory at Ipswich.

The Netherlands international missed Wednesday’s Champions League win over Atletico because of “adductor issues” after feeling discomfort on both sides following last week’s victory at Portman Road.

As a result, Barcola made his first Liverpool start since completing his big-money transfer from Paris Saint-Germain, and the winger caught the eye with an energetic display before being substituted late on because of cramp.

Liverpool will check on both players after Friday’s training session, and Iraola said: “Barcola was just cramps. We have to evaluate how he is today, but there is no injury. I think he should be available if everything goes normal.

“Cody we will see. We will try today and see if he is ready for tomorrow or if we need to wait until the next one.”

Iraola is still unbeaten after his first four matches in charge of Liverpool, and the Reds go into Saturday afternoon’s meeting with Fulham on the back of successive wins over Ipswich and Atletico. However, the Basque coach also feels there is still plenty of room for improvement.

Liverpool have scored two goals in each of their four matches so far, and Iraola said: “The team has goals in it. In all of the games we have been dangerous and created chances, we have scored two [in the last two] and could have scored more. Now it's about being more efficient.

“So not conceding the two goals against Newcastle, not conceding the two goals against Forest. It's also when the goals come because I don't think we're starting games too well. We [started well against] Ipswich and the games look more comfortable when you start like this.

“I would like to score the fist goal to make things easier, but we have to have the right mentality. We didn’t start badly against Atletico but I think the start of games is one of the parts where I think we can be a bit better. I want us to impose ourselves from the beginning.”