Liverpool have struggled to replace Trent Alexander-Arnold since his departure to Real Madrid
Trent Alexander-Arnold looks on
Liverpool have found it difficult to replace Trent Alexander-Arnold(Image: David Davies/PA Wire)
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Former Liverpoor midfielder Danny Murphy believes Trent Alexander-Arnold's quality remains unreplaced at Anfield - and believes the club might be forced to pursue another full-back signing in the near future.
Alexander-Arnold departed his boyhood side last year, having allowed his contract to expire before switching to Real Madrid. However, matters haven't exactly unfolded as planned for him since joining the Spanish giants.
Fitness issues plagued his debut season at the Bernabeu, and he currently finds himself marginalised under returning boss Jose Mourinho. The Portuguese has consistently preferred summer acquisition Denzel Dumfries at right-back instead.
Yet while Alexander-Arnold's transfer may not be proving successful, his former employers are discovering it equally challenging to fill the void he left.
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Liverpool brought in Jeremie Frimpong last summer, though the ex-Bayer Leverkusen defender hasn't yet won over supporters at Anfield. Meanwhile, Conor Bradley has endured numerous fitness setbacks, with the 23-year-old not anticipated to return until November following knee surgery earlier in the year.
The Reds' difficulties aren't confined to the right flank either. Milos Kerkez still appears to be settling in and has attracted somewhat divided opinions from pundits, while Liverpool has been obliged to rely once more on Kostas Tsimikas as cover, despite the Greek international seeming destined for a departure just 12 months ago.
Danny Murphy shares his views on Arne Slot's future on TalkSPORT
Danny Murphy shares his views on Arne Slot's future on TalkSPORT(Image: TalkSPORT)
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Murphy has confessed to harbouring concerns about Liverpool's full-back situation, believing the club may need to explore fresh alternatives in the near future.
"A real concern would be the full-back areas, where Frimpong and Kerkez are struggling," Murphy told Snabbare. "Going forward, especially for me, they don't have anywhere near the same quality as what Liverpool have been used to with Trent.
"Now, Conor Bradley is more of an orthodox right-back than Frimpong, of course, and a super talent, but he can't seem to stay fit.
"Frimpong primarily wasn't a right-back when he signed, but he's struggled to adapt to that position, and in a world now where football is very condensed in the middle of the pitch in most matches, the wide areas are crucial.
"Liverpool, in the games I've seen so far, have got themselves in a lot of good positions in wide areas and the quality coming in from the full-backs isn't good enough. Yeah, that is a concern moving forward and something I think they'll be looking at."
Andoni Iraola offered an update on Bradley's rehabilitation earlier this week, with the Northern Ireland international still considerably far from returning to first-team duties, having been absent since January.
"I think he is not close to training with the team," Iraola confirmed in a press conference on Monday. "He is training alone, but he has started touching the ball.
"Definitely, we want him ready as soon as possible. Giovanni [Leoni] is a little bit ahead of him. Still it is going to take some time for Conor."