Former Premier League defender slams Liverpool duo

Liverpool Full-Back Problem Under Spotlight After Richard Dunne Verdict

Liverpool’s issues are not hard to identify. They are visible in transition, obvious in open spaces and repeatedly exposed when games become stretched. Richard Dunne, speaking to Liverpool.com via OLBG, has gone straight to the point, and he has singled out the full-back positions as a core reason why Liverpool are falling short.

The names in focus are Jeremie Frimpong and Milos Kerkez. Both arrived with a reputation for energy, aggression and attacking intent. Both looked like players suited to a modern side that wants width from deep and pace in recovery. The problem, as Dunne sees it, is simpler than that. Liverpool need more defensive assurance from those roles if they are going to compete properly at the top end.

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Jeremie Frimpong and Milos Kerkez Under Pressure

Dunne’s verdict was blunt: “The problem they have is their full-backs, which I think everybody knows.” He went further, adding, “The full-backs aren’t of the standard they need them to be, certainly defensively. There was hope that Kerkez might find the form he had under Iraola at Bournemouth, but that doesn’t seem to be the case.”

That is the nub of it. Frimpong and Kerkez are aggressive, front-foot full-backs, but Liverpool are paying for what happens behind them. This is not about whether they can attack. They can. It is about whether the side can absorb the risks their positioning creates. At the moment, too often, the answer is no.

Under Andoni Iraola, there is an obvious desire to play with intensity and commit numbers forward. That can work, but only if the distances are right and the structure behind the ball holds up. Liverpool have not found that balance consistently.

Defensive Structure Remains Liverpool Concern

Dunne also pointed to the wider issue. “They’re too open at times, and that’s causing the problems,” he said. That assessment feels accurate. This is not solely about individual defending. It is about shape, cover and whether the midfield gives enough protection when attacks break down.

Virgil van Dijk remains an elite defender in many aspects, but he should not be asked to extinguish every fire on his own. Dunne’s point here was sharp too, noting: “The midfield is not sitting, and Van Dijk is an outstanding player, but you don’t want to leave him isolated at the back too often because he’s probably not as quick as he used to be. That makes it a little bit more difficult.”

That is the danger for Liverpool. Full-backs push on, midfield support is late, centre-backs are left exposed. It becomes a tactical chain reaction.

January Transfer Window Could Be Key

Dunne believes the fix may have to come in the market. “If they could have added a couple more full-backs, Liverpool would have benefited from that,” he said, before concluding, “But it is what it is at the moment, and I’m sure they’ll recognise that and try and fix it come January.”

That feels realistic. Liverpool do not necessarily need a complete overhaul, but they do need options. Specialists who can defend one-v-one, hold the line and allow Iraola to vary his approach would change the picture. Right now, rivals know where to look. They target the channels, attack the space and force Liverpool into recovery runs they do not control well enough.

If that does not improve, the title conversation becomes theoretical rather than real.

Our View

From a hopeful Liverpool perspective, there is still room for this to turn. Dunne is right to flag the issue, because pretending everything is fine helps nobody. Frimpong and Kerkez have both looked vulnerable defensively, and supporters can see that teams are actively trying to isolate them. That said, this feels like a problem that can be coached as much as bought away.

Iraola has built teams before that play brave football without losing all defensive control. If he can get the midfield distances right, and if Liverpool become more selective about when both full-backs go at once, the same players could suddenly look far more reliable. Confidence and structure matter. Full-backs always look worse when the protection in front of them is loose.

There is also the possibility that this squad simply needs time to settle into what the coach wants. Kerkez has shown quality before, and Frimpong’s pace and attacking threat remain valuable weapons. No supporter wants Liverpool to become passive just to solve a weakness. The better outcome is refinement, not retreat.

January may well bring reinforcements, and it probably should if the right profile is available. But the bigger hope is that Liverpool can tighten up quickly enough to stay in the race, then add smartly rather than desperately. If that happens, this concern becomes manageable rather than defining.

Source: Richard Dunne speaking to liverpool.com