Liverpool are currently facing an unexpected challenge at right-back after the exit of one of the club’s most loyal academy products, whose departure to Real Madrid brought an end to a remarkable 20-year journey at Anfield. The transfer, completed for what many considered a surprisingly low fee of around £10 million, was initially viewed internally as a manageable situation rather than a major setback.
At the time of the move, there was a strong sense of confidence within the club’s hierarchy that they had already prepared adequately for life without their long-serving defender. Manager Arne Slot, working closely alongside sporting director Richard Hughes, believed Liverpool had acted decisively enough to avoid any major disruption in the squad.
Part of that confidence came from the club’s commitment to Conor Bradley, the highly-rated young full-back who had shown encouraging signs whenever called upon. Liverpool rewarded the Northern Irish defender with a new contract, underlining their faith that he could eventually establish himself as a regular starter and become a key figure for the future.
The Reds also moved aggressively in the transfer market to strengthen the position further. Their solution arrived in the form of Jeremie Frimpong, who joined from Bayer Leverkusen in a deal worth approximately £29.5 million. Frimpong arrived with a growing reputation after several impressive seasons in Germany, where his pace, attacking energy, and creativity made him one of the Bundesliga’s standout wing-backs.
Liverpool expected the Dutch international to seamlessly step into the role and provide the quality needed on both ends of the pitch. Yet despite the optimism surrounding his arrival, the transition has proven far more complicated than anticipated.
Although Frimpong has displayed flashes of his attacking ability, adapting to Liverpool’s tactical structure has not been straightforward. Questions have started to emerge regarding whether he is naturally suited to operating as a conventional right-back in a system that demands greater defensive discipline and positional awareness. His struggles to consistently meet expectations have gradually become a concern for the coaching staff.
To make matters worse for Liverpool, Conor Bradley has suffered a significant long-term injury setback, removing another natural option from the squad at a crucial stage. With limited depth available in the position, the club suddenly finds itself dealing with an issue few anticipated earlier in the season.
What once appeared to be a smooth and carefully planned transition has instead become an area of growing uncertainty for Liverpool as they continue searching for stability on the right side of defence.
