1 week ago
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Former Liverpool star Dietmar Hamann has questioned Jeremie Frimpong's role in the team, while also highlighting his concerns over several positions.
Liverpool suffered its fourth-straight loss on Sunday, the most brutal defeat of the season, after losing 2-1 at home to Manchester United. After winning the Premier League title in his debut season, early pressure is starting to mount on head coach Arne Slot.
The team has changed considerably since the summer transfer window expired, and Hamann believes that Slot no longer knows his best team. The overhaul in the full-back position has been one of Liverpool's biggest challenges, and Hamann doesn't think Frimpong is a right-back.
During the 2-1 defeat to United, Slot started Conor Bradley and Milos Kerkez in the full-back positions. Frimpong replaced Mohamed Salah toward the end of the game, but was more defensive after Bradley was withdrawn earlier in the contest.
For years, Liverpool has benefited from the full-back partnership of Andrew Robertson and Trent Alexander-Arnold. The transition has been more impactful than first thought, but according to Hamann, there are problems throughout the starting lineup.
Speaking to ESports News UK, Hamann said: "It is hurting Liverpool that Arne Slot doesn’t know his best XI, but there's a reason for it. If things go well, or if there's a feeling of progress, then you stick with what you've got.
"However, Milos Kerkez has been struggling since he came to the club. Jeremie Frimpong is not a right-back. Conor Bradley is probably the first choice, even though he's missed a lot of games through injury.
"So I would like to think that he's the right-back now, then there's the situation with Dominik Szoboszlai. Slot went back to the three in midfield, which was probably the best midfield in the league last season.
"Mohamed Salah has found it hard to score goals since Christmas, and it's a similar story now. He hasn't got the impact he used to have. So there are a few question marks about the team in certain positions.
"The thing that worries me is there isn't one clear issue where you can say, 'If Bradley gets a run of games and settles in, they'll be fine.' I think there are two, three, or four positions where you're not sure whether they're good enough to compete."
Liverpool hasn't been at its best this season, but a four-game losing streak is unexpected. The unwanted run began with a 2-1 defeat to Crystal Palace, before a 1-0 defeat to Galatasaray in the Champions League days later.
Chelsea then scored a last-minute winner at Stamford Bridge to beat Liverpool 2-1, and Manchester United landed the most damning blow of all. Liverpool next faces Eintracht Frankfurt in the Champions League, desperate to secure a victory.
Hugo Ekitike will face his former club on Wednesday. He joined Liverpool from Frankfurt in a deal worth $106 million this summer.
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