Right-back confirms he's ready to join Liverpool

After all the brilliant business in the summer, it feels like Richard Hughes may have failed to address one obvious flaw at Liverpool.

The Reds needed to replace Trent Alexander-Arnold, and they had planned to do that in the aggregate. This is of course typical Moneyball play and absolutely fine.

However, while replacing him in the aggregate may work, although the team does need time to gel, Liverpool also needed to replace his position on the pitch.

Their answer was to give Conor Bradley more time, and to sign Jeremie Frimpong, who is far more used to play as a wing-back than as a right-back. It seems at this stage that Arne Slot simply does not trust him to play Alexander-Arnold's position, which has led to Dominik Szoboszlai putting in a shift in that role.

But long-term this cannot continue. Despite everything Hughes did, he may need to dip into the market and sign a right-back.

It's not enough to sign a right back. Liverpool can't have just any right-back. They need someone who is capable of stepping up and playing for one of the biggest teams in the world.

They also need someone who is both extremely solid defensively and comfortable in possession. Someone Slot can rely on the build-up but can also bring about solidity when defending counter attacks.

There aren't many better right-backs in Europe's top five leagues to do that right now than Michael Kayode. The 21-year-old has been brilliant for Brentford so far this season and his performance against the Reds confirmed that he's ready to play for a club like Liverpool.

Kayode pretty much locked up Brentford's right side defensively. He won 100% of his duels, including 5/5 ground duels and 1/1 aerial duels.

On top of that his incredible long throws were a massive threat to Liverpool's defence on the night.

With set-pieces becoming so important in the modern game, having someone like Kayode would bring Liverpool an extra weapon in attack.

His long-throws aimed towards the likes of Hugo Ekitike and Alexander Isak could be just as dangerous as Trent Alexander-Arnold crosses that he wiped in week in, week out.

On top of that, the defensive side of Kayode's game is where Liverpool need him the most. He's quick and strong and hard to beat. In a solid unit at Brentford, he showed that he can terrorise attackers and dominate games from right-back.

At the same time, he's so young, and he's got so much potential to grow and develop as a player. Liverpool could solve their right-back situation for the next decade if they sign him.

But certainly his performance confirms that he's ready. Whether Liverpool make a move remains to be seen. Although if Kayode keeps playing the way he's playing right now, we can't see him staying at Brentford for too long.

Sooner or later, one of the bigger clubs in the Premier League will come knocking on their door.

So Kayode is one to keep an eye on. Liverpool will likely be looking at the right-back market come the next two windows and it would not be a surprise if he was on the club's shortlist.

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