Liverpool’s right-back position is beginning to resemble a game of musical chairs. A winger finished there against Brentford, a centre-back has become the regular starter, and a midfielder could be asked to do the job against Brighton. Meanwhile, the specialist recruited to bring attacking thrust down that flank is injured again.
Jeremie Frimpong offers Liverpool one important advantage: homegrown status. Having developed at Manchester City’s academy, the Dutchman occupies one of just eight homegrown places in Liverpool’s 2026/27 Premier League squad. That gives the Reds valuable registration flexibility, but does precious little when Andoni Iraola needs somebody fit to defend the right flank.
Frimpong suffered another muscle injury just six minutes into his substitute appearance in Liverpool’s 2-1 win over Brentford on 17 October. He is unlikely to return before the November international break. With Conor Bradley recovering from a serious knee injury, Iraola moved Victor Munoz from the wing to right-back. The Spaniard scored the equaliser but subsequently missed the Villarreal game with his own injury.
🚨 | @SkySportsPL: Jeremie Frimpong is set to be out for Liverpool for roughly four weeks. https://t.co/WQcvTje2c8
— Anfield Edition | æ (@AnfieldEdition) October 22, 2026
Liverpool’s remarkable 4-3 Champions League comeback against Villarreal produced another experiment. Ronald Araujo, naturally a centre-back, started on the right but was withdrawn at half-time. Iraola explained that Villarreal’s midfield overloads were dragging the Uruguayan into uncomfortable positions, prompting Ryan Gravenberch to take over.
The adjustment made footballing sense. Gravenberch could track opponents moving inside while offering better passing combinations with Rio Ngumoha on the wing. Yet it remained a compromise. Iraola admitted on Friday that Gravenberch’s best position is actually No.8.
The manager has already acknowledged the dilemma. Frimpong provides overlaps, pace and attacking runs but leaves space behind, whereas Araujo offers greater defensive security without the same attacking threat.
Meanwhile, another familiar name has resurfaced. Spanish outlet Fichajes claimed Liverpool were preparing a €20m January offer to bring Trent Alexander-Arnold back from Real Madrid. There is no independently confirmed bid, however, and the England international remains contracted to Madrid until 2031.
🚨 Liverpool are preparing a £20M bid to bring Trent Alexander-Arnold back to Anfield in January. The Reds are keen to re-sign the England international from Real Madrid when the winter transfer window opens and the 28-year-old is considering his options after struggling to nail down a first team place. (Source: @FichajesNet)
— Transfer News Live (@DeadlineDayLive) October 21, 2026
Julian Ward, who was appointed sporting director in September, has a bigger question to answer. Liverpool possess a reported €55m purchase option for Araujo, although Fabrizio Romano says his substantial wages complicate any permanent deal. Real Sociedad’s Jon Aramburu has also attracted reported scouting interest, without a confirmed approach.
Liverpool have versatile defenders, attacking options and homegrown numbers. What they still lack is certainty at right-back. Against Brighton’s confident attack on Sunday, another improvised selection could expose precisely why that distinction matters.
