If Liverpool are talking about adding another right-back, it only makes sense in a very specific scenario. Otherwise we’re just hoarding bodies, blocking pathways, and wondering why the squad mood drops off a cliff the moment things get choppy.

For me, you only go and sign a new senior right-back if that move is tied to outgoings and a clear plan. If Chiesa and Ramsay are sold, and Frimpong is genuinely being viewed as Chiesa’s replacement further forward, then fine: bring in a right-back to compete with Bradley long-term. That’s coherent squad-building.

Three seniors for one position? No thanks

But if Ramsay isn’t being sold, he needs to be used. It’s that simple. Keeping players around as decorative options doesn’t help anyone, least of all Liverpool.

And if Frimpong is considered a right-back even for the short term because Chiesa is staying, then you’re already at two senior options. In that case, Frimpong should be the one starting there, Bradley rotates in, and the academy provides the short-term cover when injuries crop up.

That’s how it’s always worked at proper clubs. You don’t sign three senior players per position “just in case”. The third-choice minutes are exactly where young lads get their break. It’s how careers start, and it’s part of the Liverpool identity whether we’re winning things or not.

Squad players aren’t props

What’s really winding me up is the way squad and academy players seem to be getting treated. In a World Cup year especially, fringe lads will be desperate to put themselves in the shop window for their countries. If you’re not going to trust them, then be honest and move them on. Don’t just leave them in limbo.

Names like Endo, Gomez, Ramsay and Chiesa being left to wither isn’t just bad for them, it’s bad for the whole environment. Football dressing rooms notice that stuff. It changes how everyone feels about the project.

The Klopp standard for togetherness

Klopp built a togetherness that kept the squad engaged. Even when lads weren’t starting, you still felt a connection between the first team, the bench, and the academy. That doesn’t happen by accident, it comes from man-management and culture-setting.

So when you hear a dismissive line in public, it lands. When you see players treated like they’re temporary accessories rather than Liverpool players, it lands. And it starts to give off vibes we’ve spent years laughing at elsewhere.

I don’t want us acting like a club that can just buy its way out of every awkward moment. I want us to be Liverpool, backed by smart recruitment, yes, but also by trust, pathways, and a bit of care for the lads wearing the shirt.

Squad-building isn’t just about “depth”, it’s about roles. A healthy setup usually has two senior options per position, with youngsters as the next line. When you stockpile senior cover, the minutes dry up, development stalls, and you end up with unhappy players who still cost you wages and squad slots.

Written by MK Scouser: 20 January 2026

Tags: transfers efl