Agbonlahor: Liverpool Should Drop Frimpong and Move Szoboszlai to Right-Back

According to talkSPORT, former Aston Villa player Gabriel Agbonlahor believes Liverpool head coach Iraola should immediately adjust the right-back position, drop Jeremie Frimpong and allow Dominik Szoboszlai to fill in at right-back again. Liverpool legend Carragher shares a similar view.

Since Alexander-Arnold joined Real Madrid last summer, right-back has gradually become a problem position for Liverpool. Frimpong was originally brought in as Alexander-Arnold's replacement, but injuries have affected his first season after joining and he has never reached his best form.

Another natural right-back, Conor Bradley, suffered a serious knee injury in January and has been sidelined for a long period, meaning Szoboszlai filled in at the position 10 times last season.

This season, Frimpong started as Liverpool's right-back in their first two Premier League matches, but his performances have not been convincing. Iraola's Liverpool drew 2-2 with Newcastle United and Nottingham Forest respectively, and with the team's defensive displays struggling, Frimpong's defensive ability has also been questioned.

Carragher said on a podcast that he believes Szoboszlai's best position might even be right-back: "He has just signed a new contract, and I can imagine that during the renewal negotiations Liverpool really wanted him to stay, while he may also have expressed the idea that 'I want to play in midfield.'"

"He has played several different positions. At the start of this season he played as a central midfielder, but I don't think that is his most suitable position."

"For me, he is a bit like Jordan Henderson in midfield — good at running, full of energy, and a bigger goal threat. But Liverpool do not play in that way, and he is not really a number 10."

Carragher believes Szoboszlai could actually make better use of his qualities at right-back: "His best position may actually be right-back. There he can receive the ball a lot, use his running ability, and even play a role similar to the one Alexander-Arnold had in the past to some extent."

However, Carragher admitted that getting Szoboszlai to fill in at right-back again may not be easy. Reports state that Szoboszlai has just signed a new contract with Liverpool worth around £350,000 per week and has become the team's vice-captain.

Carragher said: "He certainly would not want to play right-back because he has just signed a £350,000-per-week contract. You have just done a big thing for him, and he is still the team vice-captain. I think Iraola now has to talk to him, because Liverpool's midfield is not functioning ideally at the moment, and he is also part of that midfield system."

Agbonlahor also believes that in the current situation, Szoboszlai is the best option to solve Liverpool's right-back problem.

Asked whether Szoboszlai could solve the problems caused by Frimpong, Agbonlahor replied: "At the moment, yes."

"Conor Bradley is injured, and Frimpong does not have enough ability."

Agbonlahor further explained his lineup idea: "Against Nottingham Forest last week, if Gravenberch had been on the bench, then let Gravenberch move into midfield and partner Mac Allister and Wirtz."

"That arrangement makes sense because Frimpong does not have enough ability, and he will never have that ability. He is a wing-back, not a full-back."

However, Agbonlahor also believes Szoboszlai himself would not want to play right-back permanently: "He likes scoring goals and shooting from distance. He does not want to play right-back. For the team, I believe he would be willing to do it occasionally, but he would not want to be the long-term option in that position."

Agbonlahor added: "Szoboszlai has just signed a new contract, earns £350,000 per week, and he was also Liverpool's Player of the Season last season."

"He might say to the manager: 'Please, coach, you had the whole summer to find a right-back.'"

Szoboszlai was one of the few bright spots in Liverpool's poor 2025-26 season, scoring a career-high 13 goals in all competitions and eventually being named Liverpool's Player of the Season.

Because Carragher and Agbonlahor both believe Szoboszlai can only be a temporary solution at right-back, talkSPORT presenter Darren Bent suggested another option — signing current free agent Dani Carvajal.

The 34-year-old Carvajal remains without a new club after ending his Real Madrid career. Bent said: "Looking at Liverpool's full-back problems, I thought of Dani Carvajal. When it comes to full-backs, he is one of the best players we have discussed."

"He is 34 years old, but if he could be signed on a free transfer, I would even think: 'Well, this really is not a bad idea.'"