Jamie Carragher has criticised Liverpool's decision not to sign a right-back during the summer transfer window, insisting the club cannot wait for Conor Bradley to return from injury.
Bradley has been sidelined since January after suffering a serious knee injury against Arsenal. The full-back has already been ruled out of the upcoming November international fixtures by Northern Ireland boss Michael O'Neill.
Carragher's verdict on Bradley and Frimpong
Speaking on the latest episode of The Overlap, Carragher said Bradley has done well enough but argued the club should have brought in a natural right-back rather than relying on Jeremie Frimpong, who has come under scrutiny for some of his displays this season.
“Conor Bradley has done well enough - and sometimes I think you've got to go 'he's done well enough, give him his head',” Carragher said. “And they brought Frimpong in not as direct competition - he can do a bit of right-back and a bit of right-wing, so he can get his minutes there.”
Carragher: You can't wait for Conor Bradley
Carragher pointed out that Bradley “got his chance, got a bad injury, didn't do particularly well last season to be honest.” He added: “Now my problem with it is - Conor Bradley, a good young player, has done really well, but if someone gets a bad injury, he's not that good that you don't need to replace him.”
“You'd wait for Trent to come back, you'd wait for Andy Robertson to come back, but unfortunately I don't think you should be waiting for Conor Bradley to come back. You go and buy a right-back because Frimpong isn't one. And then when Conor Bradley comes back because he got a bad injury, he's got to fight for his place and I think that's fair.”
Carragher concluded: “This thing of 'we're waiting for Conor Bradley to come back' - no. Liverpool are one of the biggest clubs in the world, you can't wait for Conor Bradley. You want to get him back and good luck to him, but they've made a massive mistake.”
