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Just over two months since Mohamed Salah's name was officially removed from Liverpool's squad, the club continues to grapple with how to fill the void left by the Anfield icon. New head coach Andoni Iraola is eager to explore a fresh approach.
The Reds failed to sign a direct replacement during the summer window for the right-wing position Salah had owned for nine years. The Egyptian was a dual-threat wide attacker who accumulated 380 goal contributions (257 goals, 123 assists) across 442 appearances.
Filling that void is nearly impossible, but it seems Liverpool will hand that responsibility to Bradley Barcola—now the club's second most expensive signing ever. The Frenchman produced 22 goals and 22 assists throughout the 2024–25 campaign with Paris Saint-Germain.
The catch is that Barcola, while capable of operating on the right, is naturally a left winger. Much like Salah was a left-footed player who cut inside from the right, Liverpool's new No. 29 is right-footed and drifts infield from the left. His style simply doesn't translate to the right side.
That same issue plagued Rio Ngumoha on the opening weekend against Newcastle United, where he was pinned wide by opposing left back Lewis Hall and struggled whenever he ventured inside on his weaker left foot.
Looking at Liverpool's winger options, the squad appears lopsided. Even with Barcola shifting the attacking focus from right to left, the Reds ended the summer window with four left wingers and zero right wingers.
Barcola and Víctor Muñoz were brought in alongside existing options Cody Gakpo and Ngumoha. Right winger Maghnes Akliouche had been linked early in the window but ultimately signed for Paris Saint-Germain instead.
Liverpool Flip Attacking Emphasis, Munoz Replaces Salah
However, if Barcola secures the left flank to provide that Salah-like inverted, dual-threat presence, Iraola has hinted that Muñoz could be the answer on the right as Liverpool weigh a more straightforward approach. After Ngumoha's difficult outing against Newcastle, Gakpo was selected against Nottingham Forest last weekend and was only marginally more effective than his teenage counterpart.
"Víctor has played more games on the left throughout his career but has perhaps been even more effective on the right," Iraola reflected ahead of Liverpool's scheduled Premier League clash with Ipswich Town on Friday.
The pacey Muñoz is a direct, vertical threat and could see Liverpool return to a more traditional style on the right, where the winger is primarily tasked with beating defenders in a straight line and delivering crosses for the center forward. It requires no cutting inside onto a stronger foot for a right-footed player like the Spaniard, and offers a contrasting dynamic to the left flank.
That more direct style should benefit Alexander Isak as a penalty-box striker, delivering more immediate service to the physically imposing Swede.
However, despite Gakpo remaining at Liverpool following interest from Manchester City and Tottenham Hotspur, the manager still wants Ngumoha to develop on the right flank, refusing to let one poor performance convince him it cannot be done.
"We know Rio can play on the left and has shown his qualities. He needs to develop on the right to give him more options," the manager explained. "He is so young. [But] because he wasn't incredible in the first game on the right, we can't say he will never play on the right anymore."
Iraola Counters Depth Concerns in Midfield, Fullback
Liverpool brought in four new players over the summer for a combined outlay approaching $270 million (£200 million), with center backs Jérémy Jacquet and Ronald Araújo joining Barcola and Muñoz.
No midfield reinforcements were made, and Curtis Jones was sold to Inter without a replacement. Dominik Szoboszlai, Alexis Mac Allister, Ryan Gravenberch, and Wataru Endo are supported by Trey Nyoni and James McConnell. "In midfield we have good numbers," Iraola said, placing the responsibility on himself to make the "right calls," find the "best combinations," and get more from the group.
Left back Andy Robertson also left without a replacement, leading to Kostas Tsimikas being reintegrated a year after being deemed surplus to requirements and loaned to Roma, where he barely featured. Milos Kerkez was already coming off a difficult debut season and likely needed stronger competition for his spot.
At right back, injury-prone Jeremie Frimpong is currently backed up only by utility defender Joe Gomez—himself even more susceptible to injury—while Conor Bradley remains sidelined. This has led Iraola to "value" Szoboszlai as an emergency right back option, which naturally pulls the influential Hungarian away from his preferred midfield position.
Iraola stated he is "happy" with Liverpool's current squad.
"In the end, the club has decided those signings we have made are the ones that will improve our team and strengthen our positions," he said. "There were other options we chose not to pursue for various reasons—sometimes sporting, sometimes financial. Those moves didn't make sense in the market. But I'm happy now. I have a lot of quality in the team."