Liverpool have no senior right-back available with Jeremie Frimpong and Conor Bradley injured.
Liverpool feel it is the best-possible scenario. Fans present at Anfield who saw Jeremie Frimpong go down within two minutes of the 6-0 victory over Qarabag will think the same.
As soon as Frimpong pulled up, there were fears that he suffered a hamstring recurrence. Since signing from Bayer Leverkusen, he had already been sidelined twice with the issue. There was at least some solace when Frimpong pointed towards his groin when receiving treatment.
Joe Gomez has operated in the position more than 100 times in his career. But he is absent with a hip issue and has had fitness woes over the past few years.
Against Qarabag, it was Wataru Endo who had to serve as an auxiliary full-back. Dominik Szoboszlai and Curtis Jones have had to do similar this season.
The next right-back in line is Calvin Ramsay. However, when asked about the 22-year-old earlier this month, Slot said he had ‘better options’. It does not appear that the Liverpool head coach will turn to Ramsay, who has had a difficult few years out on loan previously. The one-cap Scotland international has also had injury issues since joining from Aberdeen in 2022.
The transfer market looks like it won’t be utilised by Liverpool. They can do business until 19.00 GMT on Monday 2 February but Slot has admitted that it’s highly doubtful the Reds will make any moves.
And there is no option to recall a youngster who is out on loan. Luca Stephenson caught the eye for Liverpool in pre-season, featuring in friendlies against Preston, Yokohama F. Marinos, AC Milan and Athletic Bilbao before heading to Dundee United for a second loan spell. He was named the club’s Young Player of the Year in 2024-25 and the 22-year-old has thrived north of the border.
Stephenson is capable of operating in several positions, including right-back. However, according to The Courier, he cannot be recalled to Anfield. It’s suggested that Liverpool had the option to terminate Stephenson’s loan if he failed to make a certain number of appearances for Dundee United. But he has been a regular starter, playing 21 times to date, recording four goals and three assists. It means that the former Sunderland man will remain at Tannadice for the remainder of the campaign.
Speaking to The Courier earlier this season, Stephenson said: “I want to stick around for the full season here. It doesn’t matter how well I’m doing or how well I did last season, when I join a club, I commit to a full season.”
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