Liverpool right-back Jeremie Frimpong
What exactly is Liverpool's goal in the Premier League this season? At the end of the summer transfer window, the Reds hierarchy seems happy with the deals done, Victor Munoz and Bradley Barcola adding depth and dynamism and directness to the Anfield frontline.
But FSG's sense of satisfaction is not shared by the Liverpool fanbase, who believe Andoni Iraola has been left with glaring gaps across his squad.
REUTERS/Scott Heppell
Liverpool have not strengthened in the middle of the park, actually selling Curtis Jones to Inter Milan for £30m. They have also failed to directly replace Mohamed Salah on the right wing, with issues at right-back also unaddressed.
How Liverpool's right-back problems could hurt them
The Kop will hope that Jeremie Frimpong avoids the injury setbacks which derailed his debut year at Liverpool. But Frimpong's performances on the pitch have also left a lot to be desired; he is proving a flashpoint for criticism at the start of 2026/27.
In fairness, it's not unwarranted. The Dutchman has lacked conviction and accuracy when in attack while defending shoddily over the first few weeks of Liverpool's campaign.
Against Newcastle, Matthias Jaissle's tactics effectively boiled down to pressurising the 25-year-old, something which worked well for the home Toon.
REUTERS/Scott Heppell
Last summer, Frimpong joined Liverpool from Bayer Leverkusen for £30m. It has not been a good transfer so far, with the right-sider lacking the physicality and defensive intuition to excel on the right side of a Liverpool back four.
It didn't work last year, on the edge of Arne Slot's sinking ship, and now, Iraola has hit work cut out if he is to get a tune out of Frimpong.
Replacing Trent Alexander-Arnold was never going to be easy, but Frimpong's attacking impact has been negligible so far this term, and his defensive fragilities have created more splinters than Trent, who was perennially criticised for his lack of awareness and precision when against the ball.
With Conor Bradley still sidelined with a knee injury sustained against Arsenal at the start of the year, Liverpool need to find a solution. Persisting with Frimpong for the next several months - or longer - will have an ill effect on the early Iraola era, perhaps even a detrimental one.
But there is a left-field solution staring everyone in the face, and Iraola could take a confident step in the right direction as Liverpool travel to Ipswich Town on Friday night in search of their first Premier League win of the season.
Liverpool have the perfect Frimpong solution at right-back
Liverpool's decision-makers believe it's job well done at the end of the summer transfer window, but misfortune on the injury front would expose Anfield's softy underbelly.
Frimpong is already covering for the injured Bradley, and doing a poor job at that, so perhaps it's time for Dominik Szoboszlai to move back to right-back, having moonlit in the role to a commendable standard last season.
szoboszlai-liverpool (3)
Analyst Raj Chohan criticised Frimpong for his "lower-league-level" defending, going on to assert that "Szoboszlai will have to enjoy right-back" if Liverpool are to find some sort of balance over the coming months.
Szoboszlai, Liverpool's Player of the Season for 2025/26, is physical, a powerful runner. His set-piece ability and eye for a pinpoint cross could even see him bring an Alexander-Arnold-esque element to Liverpool.
How the Reds have missed their boyhood sensation, who left at the end of his contract in 2025, signing for Real Madrid.
REUTERS/Ana Beltran
Alexander-Arnold, the arbiter of so much of Liverpool's creative success over the past decade. "Corner taken quickly," cried LFC commentator Steve Hunter. Szoboszlai might not share the Three Lions outcast's genius as a playmaker, but he arguably brings a more complete approach to the right-back's craft.
For all his brilliance, Szoboszlai is not a maestro of a midfielder. His ball-playing leaves something to be desired, and alongside Ryan Gravenberch in a two-man midfield pivot, he has been somewhat exposed over the past few weeks.
Ipswich are a physical team who will be buoyed by their voracious home support. Szoboszlai may well withstand the tough conditions to a better standard than Frimpong, who has wobbled in defence and spluttered in attack so far this season.
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Szoboszlai's 2025/26 Season at Liverpool by Position
Position
Attacking midfield
Central midfield
Right winger
Right-back
Centre-forward
Ergo, the Hungary skipper might have to suck it up and accept that his duty to Liverpool and the success of Iraola's system could lead him to right-back for the foreseeable future, as was the case last season as Arne Slot fought desperately stave off the injuries and other setbacks which consumed his title-winning team.
It's the kind of problem-solving exercise that Iraola will have prepared himself for, with Liverpool presented with so many issues this summer. By making this change against Ipswich, the Reds could have the balance to return to fluent form.
Jeremie Frimpong for Liverpool-1
Jeremie Frimpong for Liverpool-1