In late November, by which point Trent Alexander-Arnold\u2019s move to Real Madrid had become something more than rumour, Liverpool worries were eased by one moment from their alternative right-back academy graduate in his first ever Champions League appearance\u00a0against the reigning champions and champion of all champions.<\/p>\n
Amid spine tingles and \u2018oofs\u2019 all round, the widespread opinion after Conor Bradley\u2019s glorious man-and-ball challenge on Kylian Mbappe and an outstanding performance besides<\/a><\/strong> which saw the best footballer in the world fail to break free from the 21-year-old\u2019s pocket was that Liverpool would be just fine without Alexander-Arnold, thank you very much.<\/p>\n Jamie Carragher has said Bradley\u2019s \u201cdefinitely done enough in a Liverpool shirt\u201d to have been given the chance to prove himself as the long-term replacement. It\u2019s a tall order given what Alexander-Arnold\u2019s won and contributed in that time, while in many ways changing the fabric of what it means to be a Premier League full-back. But it would be for anyone.<\/p>\n The fan anger for Alexander-Arnold running down his contract and leaving for nothing could have been assuaged by his replacement also not costing them a dime in transfer fees. But sporting director Richard Hughes has decided to instead spend \u20ac40m (\u00a333m) on Jeremie Frimpong, who\u2019s set for a medical at Liverpool ahead of a summer move<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n By all accounts he\u2019s a very good right-back, earning rave reviews for his displays in Bayer Leverkusen\u2019s incredible 2023\/2024 season and again this term. But even in Fabrizio Romano\u2019s latest update on the move, it was claimed Hughes and Arne Slot believe he \u201ccan improve on his defensive work\u201d \u2013 an entirely predictable doubt given he\u2019s actually been a very good right wing-back.<\/p>\n Liverpool have dealt with that vulnerability on their right flank for the last eight seasons and that may not have changed all that significantly with Bradley taking his spot either. His defending has also been found wanting at times this season<\/a><\/strong> and again wasn\u2019t great here, as Yasin Ayari caught him on his heels to get on the end of Brajan Gruda\u2019s through ball to restore parity at the Amex.<\/p>\n But it was Bradley\u2019s brilliance at the other end of the pitch that had given the champions the lead. A lovely move in general featured a pinpoint switch from Dominik Szoboszlai and a one-touch pass from Mohamed Salah, but the right-back\u2019s part was stunning, as he nutmegged Simon Adingra and sold Adam Webster a dummy before picking out Harvey Elliott for a tap in.<\/p>\n There won\u2019t be many, if any, people watching that moment of magic, far from abnormal for Bradley, and his troubling evening at the other end of the pitch, particularly after Kaoru Mitoma came on, thinking what Liverpool need as effectively their first signing under Slot is a wonderfully attacking right full-back with defensive frailties.<\/p>\n MORE LIVERPOOL COVERAGE ON F365\u2026<\/strong> We\u2019re not saying Liverpool don\u2019t need another player for that position, but would side with Carragher, who voted for a full-back-cum-centre-back, in the mould of Joe Gomez or Jurrien Timber, who are defenders first, and could be used to cover multiple positions.<\/p>\n Frimpong being the first summer signing could be dismissed as incidental. Hughes has presumably struck early to avoid missing out on a player who won\u2019t be short of suitors. But you\u2019ve got to wonder whether they may regret spending \u00a333m on what appears to be the very same player as they\u2019ve already got when they\u2019re negotiating deals further into the transfer window for players they definitely need. A striker, for example.<\/p>\n Slot\u2019s actual first signing, Federico Chiesa, secured his first Premier League start and winners medal with his fifth appearance at the Amex, starting down the middle as if the Dutch manager wanted to hammer home the need for a new No.9 this summer.<\/p>\n
\ud83d\udc49\u00a0Liverpool interest in \u00a351m star confirmed after second signing \u2018gives\u2019 green light to transfer<\/strong><\/a>
\ud83d\udc49\u00a0\u2018We have a space for him!\u2019 \u2013 Salah invites \u2018phenomenal\u2019 De Bruyne to join him at Liverpool<\/strong><\/a>
\ud83d\udc49\u00a0Brighton vs Liverpool prediction, expected line-ups, how to watch and stats<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n