Liverpool’s right-back conundrum: 5 options for Arne Slot to select from

With Conor Bradley out for the remainder of the season, Arne Slot faces a conundrum at right-back as he tries to make sure the damage doesn’t have an effect on Liverpool’s performances.

“It’s an unlimited blow” – that’s how Slot described the lack of Bradley, who has undergone knee surgical procedure following his damage sustained towards Arsenal.

The pinnacle coach has 5 potential choices to exchange the Northern Eire worldwide at right-back, however he has already stated he doesn’t need to play one among them, Dominik Szoboszlai, although he could don’t have any alternative.

From Jeremie Frimpong to Joe Gomez, an academy teen and a possible signing, we take a look at how Slot may discover a answer to Bradley’s absence.

Jeremie Frimpong

Frimpong is the apparent candidate to take Bradley’s place.

Since getting back from two hamstring accidents, he has been reintegrated as a right-winger however will now be wanted at full-back.

With Mo Salah getting back from AFCON subsequent week, it’s much less of a blow to the frontline. Nevertheless, the tempo he provided in beating opponents will nonetheless be missed by the assault.

Slot has already defined that he should handle the Dutchman’s minutes, saying: “I’ve to guarantee that he’s in a position to play once more on the weekend, after which we go to Marseille after which we go to Bournemouth.

“It’s 9 video games in January with six defenders obtainable. I’ve to handle it in the fitting approach.”

Joe Gomez

Whereas he’s a centre-back by commerce, Gomez has already performed seven occasions at full-back this season, on account of accidents affecting Bradley and Frimpong which have impacted Slot’s staff choice in the course of the first half of the marketing campaign.

He’s a succesful deputy at full-back, however there are two points, one being his lack of pure attacking aptitude. The problem isn’t a lot together with his means however extra the huge distinction in model between him and Frimpong.

Liverpool enjoying Frimpong in a single sport and Gomez within the subsequent would require vastly totally different setups to work successfully, thus making it tough to drag off.

The opposite downside is that enjoying him at right-back means Liverpool don’t have any centre-back cowl, apart from 20-year-old Wellity Fortunate or midfielders Ryan Gravenberch and Wataru Endo.

Dominik Szoboszlai or Curtis Jones

An answer Slot has turned to on a number of events this season has been to place a midfielder at right-back, in idea sustaining the aspect’s fluidity and providing a number of the possession-retaining traits Trent Alexander-Arnold used to reveal.

Slot has already advised reporters: “I hope that you just don’t assume that I wish to play Dominik Szoboszlai with no consideration full-back.”

That he has carried out a number of occasions, although; the Hungarian has made 5 appearances on the fitting of the Reds’ defence this season, whereas Curtis Jones has performed there as soon as.

The pair are in a position to do respectable jobs within the makeshift function, however in flip it means taking them away from the place they’re best, in midfield.

There are additionally defensive inquiries to be requested of the pair’s positioning when enjoying at full-back; it is just regular given they’re out of place, but it surely could possibly be an issue nonetheless.

Calvin Ramsay

An unlikely possibility however one which some followers have been calling for, is to play Calvin Ramsay.

He can be enjoying in his pure place, in contrast to the others on this record, and it will give him a fantastic likelihood to develop.

The Scottish 22-year-old initially joined the academy in 2022, however a succession of accidents and failed mortgage spells has meant his growth hasn’t gone as deliberate.

Lastly again to health now, he has labored his approach into the primary staff squad and put in a strong show from the beginning when Liverpool misplaced to Crystal Palace within the Carabao Cup.

Below-21s supervisor Rob Web page advised This Is Anfield in early November that “we will severely be wanting about getting a membership to exit on mortgage.”

Nevertheless, Bradley’s damage could have given him an surprising alternative on Merseyside.

A brand new signing?

Attributable to Liverpool’s historical past of not shopping for for the short-term, it will be a shock to see the membership signal a right-back in January, even on mortgage.

The Athletic‘s David Ornstein wrote: “For Liverpool, the hope is that he (Bradley) shall be again for the beginning of pre-season and – given the best way the membership function – they’d not make a everlasting signing for such a time period.”

When it comes to gamers who’ve been linked, the newest title to pop up is that of Julian Ryerson at Borussia Dortmund, whom Liverpool ‘are contemplating’, in keeping with Absolute Fussball.

Sky Sport Germany’s Florian Plettenberg has since stated the Norwegian is ‘at the moment not a candidate’.