What Is Liverpool’s Real Premier League Ambition This Season?
What exactly are Liverpool targeting in the Premier League this season? Following the close of the summer transfer window, the club’s hierarchy appears satisfied with the business they completed. Victor Muñoz and Bradley Barcola have arrived, bringing greater depth, pace and attacking threat to Andoni Iraola’s frontline.
However, that optimism is not shared by everyone at Anfield. A section of the Liverpool fanbase feels the club have left several obvious weaknesses within the squad.
The Reds failed to add a new midfielder and even allowed Curtis Jones to leave for Inter Milan in a ÂŁ30m deal. They also did not bring in a direct replacement for Mohamed Salah on the right flank, while concerns at right-back remain unresolved.
Liverpool’s Right-Back Problem Could Become a Major Issue
Liverpool supporters will be hoping Jeremie Frimpong can stay fit after the injury problems that disrupted his first season at the club. Unfortunately, his performances have also failed to convince so far, making him one of the early targets of criticism during the 2026/27 campaign.
The criticism is understandable. Frimpong has struggled to produce consistent quality in attack and has looked vulnerable defensively during the opening weeks of the season.
Newcastle appeared to identify that weakness perfectly. Matthias Jaissle’s game plan focused heavily on putting pressure on the 25-year-old, and the approach paid off for the home side.
Frimpong arrived from Bayer Leverkusen for ÂŁ30m last summer, but his Liverpool career has yet to truly take off. His lack of physical presence and defensive awareness has made it difficult for him to establish himself as a reliable right-back.
Replacing Trent Alexander-Arnold was always going to be an enormous challenge, but Frimpong’s limited attacking influence this season, combined with his defensive weaknesses, has only increased concerns.
With Conor Bradley still recovering from the knee injury he suffered against Arsenal earlier this year, Liverpool desperately need an alternative solution. Continuing with Frimpong for several more months could seriously affect the early stages of Iraola’s reign.
Szoboszlai Could Be Liverpool’s Surprise Solution
There may, however, be an unexpected answer already inside the squad.
Dominik Szoboszlai could once again be moved into the right-back position after impressing in that role at times last season.
Liverpool’s hierarchy may believe the summer transfer window was successfully completed, but injuries could quickly expose the lack of depth in certain positions.
Frimpong is currently being asked to fill in for Bradley, yet his performances have raised questions. Analyst Raj Chohan has heavily criticised his defending and suggested that Szoboszlai may need to embrace the right-back role if Liverpool are to achieve better balance.
Szoboszlai has many of the qualities required. Liverpool’s 2025/26 Player of the Season is powerful, athletic and capable of carrying the ball over long distances. His excellent set-piece delivery and ability to whip accurate crosses into the box could also provide a small glimpse of the creativity Liverpool lost with Alexander-Arnold’s departure.
The Hungarian midfielder may therefore have to put personal preference aside and once again take responsibility at right-back if it helps Iraola’s system function more effectively.
It would not be an unfamiliar role for Szoboszlai. He already stepped into the position last season when injuries and squad problems forced Liverpool to find alternative solutions.
Iraola will have expected difficult selection decisions during his first season at Anfield. With Liverpool facing several unresolved issues, moving Szoboszlai to right-back against Ipswich Town could provide the balance the Reds need to rediscover their best football—and potentially secure their first Premier League victory of the campaign.
