Danny Murphy Warns Liverpool of Full-Back Problems

Danny Murphy has warned that Liverpool cannot ignore a growing problem at full-back – and says even the impressive Ronald Araujo is unlikely to be viewed as Virgil van Dijk’s long-term successor.

The former Liverpool midfielder, speaking to GOAL in association with Snabbare, believes the club will keep tracking Araujo closely, but doubts the Barcelona defender is being lined up as the man to eventually take over the captain’s role at the heart of the defence.

“I think 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.”

The idea of signing Araujo permanently next summer and sliding him across into Van Dijk’s position has been floated, a move that could allow Andoni Iraola to go back into the market for another full-back. Murphy, though, sees a different priority.

For him, Liverpool’s biggest structural issue sits out wide.

Full-back standard ‘not good enough’

Murphy argues that the current full-backs are undermining a system that has historically relied on elite quality in those positions.

“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.

“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 pointed to the way the modern game funnels possession into wide areas.

“Football has gone from a men-to-men situation, which it was years ago, to a more tactical game where the centre of the pitch is very, very busy. 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 did not stop there. If you are going to accept a dip in attacking output from your full-backs, he argued, they must at least be rock solid in the other direction.

“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 a ‘marauding’ option

Jeremie Frimpong, in particular, gets a degree of sympathy from Murphy, who questions the logic of how Liverpool have used him.

“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. I'm not just digging him out,” Murphy said.

“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 adapted with far less fuss when used on the flank, but Murphy still does not see him as the answer to Liverpool’s full-back creativity gap.

“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 [Dominik] 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.”

That leaves a clear conclusion in Murphy’s mind.

“I think it's a definite area for Liverpool to look at, even in January.”

If Liverpool want their wide defenders to drive another title challenge, the next move in that department may define Iraola’s early reign.