Liverpool and Burnley clashed in a 3pm Premier League kick-off on January 17.
Arne Slot has been able to make it 11 games unbeaten since a run of nine defeats in 12, but something has been missing.
Liverpool’s performances have disappointed, with the desire to shore up the backline greatly hampering the creativity in the final third.
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Against Burnley, we saw a much more dominant display from the Merseyside outfit, even if shots on target were still hard to come by.
The first half was especially pleasing, and Liverpool should have been 1-0 up when Dominik Szoboszlai stepped up to take a penalty won by Cody Gakpo.
But while it was by no means a perfect showing, especially in the second half, from the current champions, there was one thing that should excite fans.
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Arne Slot during Liverpool vs Burnley at Anfield
Credit: Gaspafotos/MB Media/Getty Images
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It’s a horrible situation for the right-back, who will hopefully be back impressing come the 2026/27 campaign.
His absence means that right now, Jeremie Frimpong is the only natural right-back option available to Slot.
With Mohamed Salah away at the AFCON, Frimpong has largely been used as a right winger, where, to his credit, he’s looked sharp.
However, Bradley’s absence has forced Slot to drop the Dutchman into a more natural full-back role.
And against Burnley, he and Milos Kerkez were among the brightest players on the pitch.
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Florian Wirtz playing for Liverpool vs Burnley
Photo by Oli SCARFF / AFP via Getty Images
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Liverpool fans praised Kerkez heavily for his showing, while both full-backs are already starting to form a great understanding with one another.
A great example of this came in the 28th minute when Kerkez whipped a lovely ball across the box for an advancing Frimpong to smash at goal.
His effort was blocked, but it perfectly summed up how the pair are already linking up well despite Slot hardly playing both as full-backs in the same game.
Chance creation has been a problem at times for Liverpool this season, but if this partnership between Kerkez and Frimpong is allowed to flourish, it could be very exciting indeed.
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