In the latest Blood Red column, Ian Doyle looks at the situation at right-back and the ongoing struggles to replace Trent Alexander-Arnold
Ronald Araujo has impressed playing at right-back for Liverpool so far this season
Ronald Araujo has impressed playing at right-back for Liverpool so far this season
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Liverpool supporters flicking through the channels to view Champions League action on Tuesday would surely have been compelled to gravitate towards events at the Bernabeu.
The clash between Real Madrid and Inter Milan had strong echoes of the recent Anfield past, far beyond the sight of Jose Mourinho prowling around in the dugout.
Two of the perhaps unexpected departees of the summer were in opposition, with Ibrahima Konate lining up for the home side after his free transfer to Spain while Curtis Jones was handed a first start since his £30million move to Serie A last month.
But it was the third former Red who offered the greater intrigue - and unwittingly highlighted a problem to which Liverpool are still struggling to find a solution more than 15 months on from his exit.
Indeed, the sight of Trent Alexander-Arnold operating in midfield - even Mourinho later admitted it isn't the best position be playing the 27-year-old - only exacerbated an issue that took an intriguing turn some 24 hours later.
It was then, in Liverpool's Champions League opener at home to Atletico Madrid, that loan signing Ronald Araujo delivered a man-of-the-match performance at right-back capped by an assist for Dominik Szoboszlai's equaliser with an impudent backheel of which Alexander-Arnold would be proud.
For a player who was brought in predominantly as a centre-back option with the potential of providing occasional cover out wide, a second successive impressive showing at right-back has been an unexpected bonus for new head coach Andoni Iraola.
Nobody, though, regards Araujo as anything other than a short-term answer to a question that tormented Arne Slot last season and has already vexed his successor this time around.
For longer than Liverpool fans care to remember, left-back was regarded the main problem position until the unassuming arrival of Andy Robertson almost a decade ago.
While the jury remains out on incumbent Milos Kerkez, the £40m outlay last year underlines the long-term faith the Reds have in the Hungary international which they hope will be increasingly justified by the presence of Iraola in the dugout given his work with the player for two years at previous club Bournemouth.
The immediate situation at right-back, though, isn't quite so clear-cut.
Liverpool regard Conor Bradley as the successor to Alexander-Arnold and their confidence in the Northern Ireland international is such they opted not to sign a right-back this summer despite the player likely being sidelined for much of the first half of the season.
But while Bradley has been impressive but injury-prone since becoming an established member of the senior squad, it will be an unknown on his return how he is going to complement both a new centre-back beside him in most likely Jeremy Jacquet and a different right-winger down the flank, whether that be one of new signings Victor Munoz and Bradley Barcola or the in-form Cody Gakpo.
And then there is the question of the type of service Bradley can offer Alexander Isak given he has started just three games in the same XI as the £125m striker and not lasted beyond 62 minutes in any of them. All ended in defeat.
Jeremie Frimpong was brought in last summer to compete with Bradley, but, one decent spell around Christmas aside, has never truly convinced. The Dutchman's defensive nous continues to be questioned, and it was notable when he came off the bench against Atletico in the second half, it was to play on the right side of the attack.
But given Araujo, despite evidence to the contrary in midweek, is first and foremost a defender, there is scope, similar to other areas of the team, for a more fluid approach to selection at right-back. What works one week for Iraola may not necessarily be the best option the next.
Indeed, while Szoboszlai spent part of last month's home draw with Nottingham Forest reprising his stint of last season at right-back, that is very much now veering into desperation territory, particularly with Joe Gomez now almost back to full fitness.
Liverpool will come up against another of their former right-backs, Alvaro Arbeloa, when struggling Fulham visit this afternoon with Iraola aiming for a third successive victory to extend an unbeaten start to his Anfield reign.
Araujo is likely to remain the main in possession at right-back, but that won't be consistent given the schedule is now about to ramp up and rotation will be necessary.
Bradley is the man on which Liverpool are waiting. But who the preferred replacement is in the meantime remains far from certain.