Liverpool's Full-Back Weakness: Murphy's Insight on Araujo and Frimpong
Danny Murphy believes Liverpool’s full-back department has become a glaring weakness – and he doesn’t see Ronald Araujo as a long-term Virgil van Dijk replacement just yet.
The former Liverpool midfielder, speaking to GOAL in association with Snabbare, expects the club to keep Araujo under constant review rather than anoint him as the heir to the captain’s role at the heart of defence.
“The club will be assessing Araujo game-in, game-out, week-to-week,” Murphy said. “I don't think they'll be necessarily thinking he's the one to come in and take Van Dijk's place because of his age. I think they'll always be open-minded to what else is out there.”
Full-back flaw undermining Liverpool’s model
Murphy’s real concern lies out wide. The very area that once supercharged Liverpool’s rise underpinned by flying full-backs now looks like a drag on Andoni Iraola’s evolving side.
“There’s a problem at Liverpool with the full-backs,” he said. “What Liverpool's success has thrived on over a long period is having two full-backs who are wonderfully good going forward and the team suited their style and they had midfielders who filled in for them when they bombed on.”
That structure, with full-backs as creative hubs, depends on quality on the ball. Murphy doesn’t see it.
“The full-backs at the moment aren't good enough with the ball and that's a real problem when, in a lot of games, Liverpool will dominate the ball,” he explained.
As the modern game has shifted away from pure man-to-man battles into packed midfields and intricate tactical duels, wide areas have become the release valve. Teams block the centre. The ball flows to the flanks. At Liverpool, that now exposes a technical shortfall.
“Generally, the space will come in wide areas and teams will defend the middle of the pitch. So, the full-backs are getting lots and lots of the ball, the numbers tell you that. And the end product of Frimpong and Milos Kerkez is certainly not up to the level Liverpool need.”
Murphy doesn’t just question their attacking output. He questions the trade-off.
“There is an argument also saying, are they good enough defensively to sacrifice that forward quality, if you like, and the answer is no. So, it is a problem. Both of them have failed, in terms of so far, let's say, in their Liverpool career.”
Frimpong out of position, Araujo not the marauder
Jeremie Frimpong, in particular, draws a degree of sympathy from Murphy. The Dutchman arrived with a reputation built higher up the pitch, not as a traditional right-back.
“Now, the argument for Frimpong, he never really did play as a right-back, so what was the thinking behind that? That's a fair argument and I feel for him a little bit at times,” Murphy said. “I'm not just digging him out. He's played the best season of his career in a different position than he's been asked to play when he's come to one of the hardest leagues in the world.”
Araujo, by contrast, has handled the defensive side with far greater ease. Murphy likes what he sees from the Uruguayan when he tucks in and thinks like a centre-half, even if he produced that eye-catching flick to set up Dominik Szoboszlai against Atletico.
“I don't think, although Araujo does it really comfortably because he's got a defensive mind and I know he had the wonderful flick against Atletico for Szoboszlai for his assist, but generally you wouldn't class him as a marauding full-back who's going to whip crosses in and create goals.”
Which brings Liverpool back to the market.
Murphy is clear: if Iraola wants his team to dominate the ball and stretch opponents the way Liverpool used to, the recruitment team cannot ignore this.
“I think it's a definite area for Liverpool to look at, even in January.”
