Liverpool told to immediately drop Jeremie Frimpong and play midfielder out of position

Andoni Iraola must drop Jeremie Frimpong and replace him with Dominik Szoboszlai at right-back to fix Liverpool’s problems.

That’s the view of talkSPORT’s Gabby Agbonlahor, who has urged the new Reds boss to make a bold change amid growing scrutiny over Frimpong‘s poor start to the season at full-back.

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Right-back has become something of a problem position at Anfield since Trent Alexander-Arnold left for Real Madrid last summer.

Though Frimpong was brought in as his replacement, the Dutchman saw his first season hampered by persistent injury problems and struggled to reach his top form.

With Liverpool’s only other specialist in the position, Conor Bradley, sustaining a long-term knee injury in January, this led to midfielder Szoboszlai deputising in the role on 10 occasions last term.

This term however, Frimpong has been starting right-back in the Reds’ first two Premier League games, but has been unconvincing.

Under new boss Iraola, Liverpool have so far snatched 2-2 draws against Newcastle and Nottingham Forest, with the full-back facing criticism for his defensive frailty amid his side’s poor defensive record.

Carragher backs Szoboszlai at right-back

Frimpong’s poor start to the season has led club legend Jamie Carragher to call for Szoboszlai to return at right-back, although he admitted this could be a potentially awkward conversation.

With the Hungarian penning a new long-term contract at Liverpool worth a reported £350,000 per week, Carragher believes he may well be reluctant to play out of position again.

Carragher said on the Stick to Football podcast: “He’s signed a new contract and I can only imagine in those talks, they were desperate for him to stay, he’s almost said, ‘I want to play midfield’.

“He’s moved around a bit and he started the season in central midfield. I don’t see him as that.

“For me, in midfield he’s a Jordan Henderson – runner, energy, with more of a goal threat. But Liverpool don’t play that way and he’s not really a No 10. 

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“His best role could actually be at right-back. He’d get plenty of the ball, he can run and almost play that Trent role from there.

“But there’s no way he’s going to want to play there because he’s just signed a new contract for £350,000 a week. 

“You’ve just done this big thing, he’s the vice-captain, I just think that’s a conversation Iraola is going to have to have going forward, because the midfield is not right and he’s part of that midfield not being right.”

Agbonlahor offers Liverpool solution

talkSPORT’s Agbonlahor that while Szoboszlai may not want a return at right-back, this could be in the team’s best interests.

The Hungary was one of the shining lights in Liverpool‘s overall disappointing 2025/26 campaign and was named the Reds’ Player of the Season after scoring a career best 13 goals in all competitions.

But asked if Szoboszlai was the solution to the Reds’ struggles with Frimpong, Agbonlahor admitted on Drive: “At the moment it is, yes.

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“Conor Bradley is injured. Frimpong hasn’t got the quality.”

Outlining how he would set up, he continued: “If you’ve got [Ryan] Gravenberch on the bench last week against Forest – Gravenberch comes in with [Alexis] McAllister in that midfield and [Florian] Wirtz. 

“And it just makes sense, because Frimpong does not have the quality and he’s never going to have the quality.

“He’s a wing-back, not a full-back.”

Like Carragher though, Agbonlahor conceded that Szoboszlai likely won’t be best pleased to be played out of position once again.

He explained: “He loves to score goals. He loves striking balls from distance. 

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“He doesn’t want to be playing right back. But for the team, I’m sure now and then he would. But not as a full-time replacement in that position.”

The Aston Villa icon added: “Szoboszlai’s just signed a new contract. It was £350,000 a week. Liverpool’s Player of the Season last season.

“He’s probably like, ‘Come on, Gaffer, you’ve had all summer to find a full-back’.”

Dani Carvajal tipped for shock Reds switch

With Agbonlahor and Carragher both admitting Szoboszlai may only be a temporary fix at right-back, talkSPORT Drive host Darren Bent had a slightly more permanent solution.

He suggested the Reds snap up free agent Dani Carvajal, who is still without a club after the end of his decorated Real Madrid career.

Speaking on Thursday’s talkSPORT Drive, Bent said: “Liverpool’s full back problem – I’m looking at Dani Carvajal, and I’m thinking as a full-back, you are talking about one of the best.

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“He’s 34-years-old, but for a free transfer, I’d almost think ‘Hmm, it’s not the worst idea in the world’.”