Liverpool right-back crisis: Conor Bradley injury leaves big hole that needs filling – should January transfer plans change? | Football News

Liverpool have had defensive problems all season. Fitness, form and bad luck have all played their part. And now the options across the back line are frighteningly thin.

Connor Bradley is the latest addition to the injury list after suffering a season-ending knee ligament injury against Arsenal last week. He has made just 12 Premier League appearances and will now not feature again for Liverpool until 2026/27.

Summer signing Giovanni Leoni was lost to injury before the season started while Joe Gomez has been in and out of the treatment room for the better part of a year. Jeremy Frimpong, not a defender by profession but by necessity, has also missed spells.

All of this presents a headache for Arne Slot, especially at right-back. Bradley was schooled to be the natural successor to Trent Alexander-Arnold, a player with less natural talent but better defensive instincts, having already proven himself against the best in big games.

There were some GIF-worthy moments. His perfectly timed tackle to clear Kylian Mbappe at full throttle and beat Vinicius Junior in a subsequent encounter with Real Madrid saw him on the ropes. For his season to end this way seems particularly cruel.

For Liverpool, this is another huge blow without the required cover. Bradley was considered integral to the smooth running of the Slot’s operations going forward, and with several games on the horizon (likely 12 between now and the end of February), the need for a quick solution became clear.

What options are currently on the table?

Confidence in Gomez at right-back

Given Gomez’s patchy injury record, playing back-up in three different positions seems like a big gamble. Gomez is the only legitimate cover for both Virgil van Dijk and Ibrahim Konate, and they should be unavailable, as should the backup right-back.

The 28-year-old has many attributes, but availability is not one of them. Since the start of this season, Gomez has played 90 minutes just three times. He has made nine Premier League appearances over the past 18 months, totaling 767 minutes. Mr. Reliability he is not.

What Gomez offers is 1v1 toughness and exceptional versatility. When fit, he displays impressive athleticism, with the ability to cover roles across the entire backline and contribute going forward.

The sample size is small, but Liverpool are yet to concede a goal when Gomez starts at right-back in the Premier League this season, and he is averaging more touches into the opposition penalty area than any other option.

But confidence in Gomez is equally hampered by his absence. Slott knows his limits well. So, if this is just a partial fix, what are some other fixes worth considering?

Frimpong to play a dual role

The problem with playing Frimpong at full-back is that he’s not one of those. This was not his area at Bayer Leverkusen. Hamstring issues aside, the 25-year-old is not equipped with the defensive mentality needed to play in a back four. Konate’s up-and-down season also doesn’t help with the problem of weakness on the right side.

From week to week, Frimpong in this position poses an experimental threat depending on the level of the opponent. “I loved it again today,” Slott said after the win over League One side Barnsley on Monday. By contrast at the start of Liverpool’s horrific downturn in September, Slott was blaming Frimpong for being “too aggressive” in the defeat to Crystal Palace.

There is no doubt that the narrative will continue to fluctuate. Frimpong is a player designed to move forward, not backward. Liverpool open games more effectively when he plays and Slott likes his “pure individual ability” and raw pace. All offensive qualities.

The coach’s closing line after the win over Barnsley should serve as a guideline for Frimpong at full-back in the future: “I’ve got to get it right.” Most obviously when Mohamed Salah returns from the Africa Cup of Nations demanding the luxury of not working defensively.

Rotation between non-backs

Slot has been forced to use midfielders as emergency cover this season, with varying degrees of success.

Dominik Szoboszlai and Curtis Jones have both fallen victim. However, what Slott gains from selecting central midfielders at full-back, is not balanced by what is taken from them. This is a temporary measure, not a long-term solution. Opponents know this and are starting to target the wide space provided by the midfielder playing out of position.

Not every week can be a journey of new discovery. Across Liverpool’s recent 11-game unbeaten run, which now extends into November in all competitions, Slott has chosen to start Gomez four times, Bradley five times and Frempong twice (unsurprisingly against bottom club Wolves and Barnsley). However, there is no midfielder in sight.

The gloss approach certainly met its natural end.

Register Guehi – or someone else?

Which brings us neatly to the final choice: signing with someone.

Liverpool’s position is that if key targets become available, they will be alert and respond. Many clubs use the deliberately vague phrase ‘market opportunity’ when asked if business is likely in January, because trading is harder in this window.

This gives the illusion that they are open to spending if not the certainty that fans want to hear. It’s a polite way to keep the powder dry.

Liverpool believe they could use Crystal Palace’s Mark Guehi at right-back in a backline that becomes a back three when they move forward, but they would not be pushed to sign Guehi unless others step up their pursuit. He will become a free agent in June, but perhaps, in the current climate, a more proactive approach is required.

The high full-back has always been a hallmark of Liverpool’s style, which is why they signed Milos Kerkez in the summer. However, finding an acceptable balance between risk and reward has proven difficult, despite huge investments.

Liverpool’s board are unlikely to respond to this season’s setbacks with a knee-jerk reaction, but they should consider what they want from the current season. If awards remain an aspiration, they may not have much choice.

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