Liverpool have had defensive points all season. Health, type and misfortune have all performed their half. And now choices throughout the backline are scarily skinny.
Conor Bradley is the newest addition to the harm listing after struggling season-ending knee ligament harm in opposition to Arsenal final week. He is solely managed 12 Premier League begins and now is not going to characteristic once more for Liverpool till 2026/27.
Summer season signing Giovanni Leoni was misplaced to harm earlier than the marketing campaign even kicked into gear whereas Joe Gomez has been out and in of the therapy room for the most effective a part of a 12 months. Jeremie Frimpong, much less a defender by commerce however necessity, has missed spells too.
All this quantities to a headache for Arne Slot, notably within the right-back place. Bradley was schooled to be Trent Alexander-Arnold’s pure successor, a participant with much less innate aptitude however higher defensive instincts, having already proved himself in opposition to the most effective in large video games.
Conor Bradley is out for the season after struggling a knee harm in opposition to Arsenal
There have been a number of GIF-worthy moments. His completely timed deal with to dispossess Kylian Mbappe in full stream and pocketing of Vinicius Junior in a subsequent assembly with Actual Madrid each attested to his readiness. For his season to finish this fashion feels notably cruelly-timed.
Highlights from the Premier League match between Arsenal and Liverpool
And for Liverpool, it is one more main blow with out the requisite cowl. Bradley was deemed integral to the graceful working of Slot’s operation from right here on out, and with so many video games on the horizon (probably 12 between now and the top of February), the necessity for a fast answer is apparent.
What choices are at the moment on the desk?
Belief Gomez at right-back
Contemplating Gomez’s patchy harm file, to be taking part in again up in three completely different positions seems like a significant gamble. Gomez is the one reliable cowl for each Virgil Van Dijk and Ibrahima Konate, ought to both be unavailable, and in addition the stand-in right-back.
The 28-year-old has many attributes, however availability is just not one in all them. Because the begin of this season Gomez has solely managed 90 minutes 3 times. He is made 9 Premier League begins over the past 18 months, amounting to 767 minutes in whole. Mr Reliability he’s not.
What Gomez does provide is 1v1 solidity and distinctive versatility. When match, he exhibits spectacular athleticism, with a capability to cowl roles throughout the entire again line and contribute going forwards.
Small pattern measurement, however Liverpool are but to concede a objective when Gomez has began at right-back within the Premier League this season and he is averaging extra touches within the opposition field than some other choice.
However religion in Gomez is equally hindered by his absence. Slot is aware of his limits all too effectively. So, if that is solely a partial treatment, what are another fixes price contemplating?
Frimpong to play twin function
The issue with taking part in Frimpong at full-back is that he’s not one. That was not his territory at Bayer Leverkusen. Hamstring points apart, the 25-year-old is just not outfitted with the defensive mindset wanted to play in a again 4. Konate’s chequered season doesn’t assist the right-sided vulnerability both.
From week to week, Frimpong on this place is an experimental threat dependant on the extent of opponent. “I favored him once more immediately,” Slot mentioned after beating League One aspect Barnsley on Monday. Distinction that with the beginning of Liverpool’s dreadful downturn again in September, and Slot was blaming Frimpong for being “too offensive” in defeat at Crystal Palace.
Little question the narrative will proceed to fluctuate. Frimpong is a participant designed to be transferring forwards, not monitoring again. Liverpool unlock video games extra successfully when he performs and Slot likes his “pure particular person means” and uncooked tempo; all attacking attributes.
The supervisor’s concluding soundbite from the win over Barnsley ought to function the tenet on Frimpong at full-back sooner or later: “I’ve to handle it in the correct manner.” Much more obvious when Mohamed Salah returns from AFCON demanding the luxurious of no defensive work.
Rotate between non-full-backs
Slot has needed to utilise midfielders as emergency cowl this season, to various levels of success.
Each Dominik Szoboszlai and Curtis Jones have fallen sufferer. What Slot is gaining from deciding on central midfielders at full-back, although, is just not balanced by what’s being taken away. It is a stop-gap measure, removed from a long-term answer. Opponents know this and started focusing on the extensive house a midfielder taking part in out of place inevitability supplied.
Each week can’t be a brand new voyage of discovery. Throughout Liverpool’s latest 11-game unbeaten run, which now stretches again to November in all competitions, Slot has opted to start out Gomez 4 occasions, Bradley 5, and Frimpong twice (not surprisingly in opposition to backside membership Wolves and Barnsley). No midfielder in sight, although.
The gloss-over method has certainly met its pure finish.
Signal Guehi – or another person?
And that brings us neatly to the ultimate choice: signal somebody.
Liverpool’s stance is that if prime targets grow to be obtainable they are going to be alert and responsive. Loads of golf equipment use the purposefully ambiguous phrase ‘market alternative’ when requested if enterprise is probably going in January, as a result of buying and selling is notoriously tougher on this window.
Sky Sports activities’ Kaveh Solhekol and Mark McAdam talk about which golf equipment are within the race to signal Marc Guehi and whether or not it is probably he’ll make the transfer this switch window
This provides the phantasm they’re open to spending if not the knowledge followers wish to hear. It is a well mannered manner of retaining powder dry.
Liverpool consider Crystal Palace’s Marc Guehi could possibly be used at right-back in a backline that turns into a situational again three once they go ahead, however will solely be pushed to signal Guehi if others step up their pursuit. He turns into a free agent in June, however maybe, in opposition to the present local weather, a extra proactive method is required.
Excessive full-backs have all the time been a trademark of Liverpool’s type, it is the explanation they signed Milos Kerkez in the summertime. Discovering an appropriate stability of threat and reward has proved powerful, although, regardless of heavy funding.
The Liverpool board are unlikely to reply to this season’s setbacks with a knee-jerk response however should take into account what they need out of the present marketing campaign. If trophies stay an ambition they could not have a lot selection.
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