Optimist Connor Bradley would have felt behind Trent Alexander Arnold’s decision to leave Liverpool in the summer.
His place on the bench for a clash with Newcastle and Liverpool could be dismissed because he would need to regain match fitness after a hamstring injury, but after two starts in Northern Ireland with an international break, Dominique Schbosslzai retired his place right for a trip to Burnley.
Read more: Liverpool “Flop” Florian Wiltz in Big Six Sextets that need to step up after an international break
Before Liverpool moved to Frimon, club legend Jamie Carrager had urged his previous club not to sign a new right-back.
“When Liverpool had Connor Bradley on his team this season, he’s in a real deal. I don’t think the right-back market this summer is living with a lot of great right-backs,” Karager said.
“So, I think the way Liverpool goes as far as Torrent goes is not only Connor Bradley is given his head, but also how Liverpool buys utility players who can play in the back four, just like Joe Gomez has been in the past few years.”
The height of the crunch towards Killian Mbappe in his victory over Real Madrid at Anfield last season leads to the suggestion that instead of taking the reins from him this season, Reds Academy alumni faces both Fripon and Zobosrai.
Frimon also sees his unlikely competition from the bench on right back, which may have more to do with his recent injury than his slot preferences, but the summer signature has to question whether he will be among Liverpool’s best team. Because Szoboslzai will do that.
He played midfield this season for an opener against Bournemouth every minute in the Premier League so far this season, then returned to the right for Newcastle and Arsenal. And aside the unbelievable game-winning free kick, Szoboszlai proved his worth in that alien position through outstanding displays featuring energy, ability to step into the midfield, and extremely impressive defensive stability.
“He’s always been a player who understands what Liverpool players should look like,” Slot told reporters after the Arsenal game. “If you’re wearing this shirt, you’ll have to give it everything no matter what position you play.”
Slot is not going to drop the man who embodies Liverpool. The question is whether the Reds boss will continue to send him right back, instead of one of Ryan Gravenberch, Alexis Mac Allister, or based on evidence from previous seasons, in place of Florian Wirtz, or push him back into the middle.
The international break brought more pain, not comforting, for the £100 million summer signature. The German press is very pleased to drill holes in the performance of players who obviously wanted to stay in the Bundesliga, rather than moving £100 million to Anfield.
And Burnley might be seen as something like a last chance, but that sounds after four games, but it might sound crazy to prove he’s the best XI in the slot and a fitting place to be with Frimon and Bradley.
