REUTERS/Phil Noble
Liverpool have been told there is one specific position they simply must address during the January transfer window, with a right-back required. The Reds are off to a disappointing start to the season overall, but Andoni Iraola's men have started picking up results, and they managed to defeat AFC Bournemouth away from home over the weekend thanks to an Alexander Isak winner.
Liverpool were under no illusions that it would take time for Iraola to get his feet under the table at Anfield, and they are willing to be patient, especially after a transfer window that yielded mixed results. The Reds are still struggling to get the best out of Florian Wirtz, while Bradley Barcola is not yet up to full speed after arriving from Ligue 1 on a big-money deal in the summer.
But it is the defence that has caused the most concern, with Liverpool looking a little too open for the most part, even against the likes of Fulham last weekend, although the clean sheet over the weekend is obviously a step in the right direction.
Speaking to GOAL about Liverpool's defensive issues, former Liverpool midfielder Danny Murphy believes the right-back position might be the biggest problem.
“I think the club will be assessing Araujo game-in, game-out, week-to-week. I don't think they'll be necessarily thinking he's the one to come in and take Van Dijk's place because of his age. I think they'll always be open-minded to what else is out there. But in terms of the full-backs, there's a problem at Liverpool with the full-backs because what Liverpool's success has thrived on over a long period is having two full-backs who are wonderfully good going forward and the team suited their style and they had midfielders who filled in for them when they bombed on and all those things we know.
Action Images via Reuters/Jason Cairnduff
“The full-backs at the moment aren't good enough with the ball and that's a real problem when, in a lot of games, Liverpool will dominate the ball because we know football has gone from a men-to-men situation, which it was years ago, to a more tactical game where the centre of the pitch is very, very busy.
“Generally, the space will come in wide areas and teams will defend the middle of the pitch. So, the full-backs are getting lots and lots of the ball, the numbers tell you that.
"And the end product of Frimpong and [Milos] Kerkez is certainly not up to the level Liverpool need."
“And there is an argument also saying, are they good enough defensively to sacrifice that forward quality, if you like, and the answer is no. So, it is a problem. Both of them have failed, in terms of so far, let's say, in their Liverpool career.
“Now, the argument for Frimpong, he never really did play as a right-back, so what was the thinking behind that? That's a fair argument and I feel for him a little bit at times. I'm not just digging him out. He's played the best season of his career in a different position than he's been asked to play when he's come to one of the hardest leagues in the world.
REUTERS/Scott Heppell
“I don't think, although Araujo does it really comfortably because he's got a defensive mind and I know he had the wonderful flick against Atletico for [Dominik] Szoboszlai for his assist, but generally you wouldn't class him as a marauding full-back who's going to whip crosses in and create goals. So, I think it's a definite area for Liverpool to look at, even in January.”
Liverpool do have Connor Bradley to come back from injury in the next couple of months, adding depth to the position, but they are going to need to decide how to get the best out of Frimpong at some point, and indeed whether that is at right-back.
benjamin sesko manchester united
benjamin sesko manchester united