Liverpool legend John Aldridge has delivered a frank assessment of the Reds’ current struggles under Arne Slot, pointing to the right-back position and Mohamed Salah’s fluctuating form as clear indicators that the team remains a “work in progress.”
Slot has endured a difficult few weeks, with Liverpool suffering three consecutive defeats despite a summer transfer outlay of around £450 million. Defeats to Crystal Palace, Galatasaray, and Chelsea have stalled early momentum and underlined lingering issues within the side’s evolving structure.
“Liverpool remain very much a work in progress. And that isn’t any more evident than in the right-back position,” Aldridge wrote in his latest Liverpool Echo column.
Replacing Trent Alexander-Arnold following his summer move to Real Madrid was never going to be straightforward, and Slot is yet to find a settled solution.
Conor Bradley and Jeremie Frimpong have both been handed opportunities to make the role their own, but injury setbacks have disrupted their rhythm. Neither has fully convinced so far, leading Slot to improvise in recent matches.
“Neither Conor Bradley nor Jeremie Frimpong have managed to properly lock down that jersey at present, although to be fair both have been hampered by injury already this season,” Aldridge explained.
“But it says much that in the second half at Crystal Palace, Arne Slot chose to push Dominik Szoboszlai into that role and also v Chelsea too.”
The Hungarian midfielder’s deployment at right-back underlined Slot’s lack of current trust in his specialist options.
“He clearly doesn’t have the confidence in Bradley and Frimpong just now. That will obviously change over time, and Frimpong did come on at right wing in the second half even if it wasn’t his best performance,” Aldridge added
The tactical reshuffle has had major ramifications further up the pitch. Mohamed Salah’s relationship with Alexander-Arnold was one of Liverpool’s most productive attacking weapons over the past six seasons, and Aldridge believes the loss of that dynamic is showing.
“It’s clear replacing Trent Alexander-Arnold won’t be an easy fix and Mohamed Salah is suffering a bit without his former team-mate,” he wrote.
While Salah’s numbers remain respectable, his influence has often been inconsistent in games.
“Yes, Salah is still posting pretty good numbers this season in terms of goals and assists but his performances have been a bit hit and miss,” Aldridge continued.
Against Atletico Madrid in the Champions League, Salah looked sharp, registering both a goal and an assist. But in the Premier League, his impact has been more sporadic.
Aldridge attributes much of that to the breakdown of a familiar on-field bond
Throughout his Liverpool career, Salah has thrived with Alexander-Arnold providing overlapping runs, incisive passing, and space creation from behind. The defender’s summer switch to the Bernabéu has forced Slot into a period of tactical experimentation, with Salah now adjusting to different profiles in that role.
Liverpool’s full-backs have historically been central to their attacking play something Aldridge expects to return once Slot identifies his preferred pairing.
“The full-backs should also have licence to do that in the old days, Phil Neal and Chris Lawler were experts and maybe that is something they will become accustomed to once Slot settles on his preferred duo in those wide defensive positions,” he reflected.
For now, though, Liverpool’s right flank remains an unresolved issue at both ends of the pitch. As the Reds look to recover from a stuttering run of results, finding stability at right-back and reigniting Salah’s influence will be critical to getting their season back on track after the international break.
