Published Sep 6, 2026, 7:10 AM GMT+1

Last season, Isak scored three times in the Premier League after his record-breaking £125m transfer from Tyneside to Liverpool. In just three games under Andoni Iraola, he has equalled that tally, with Cody Gakpo serving all three strikes.

At the front-end of the pitch, promising signs. Bradley Barcola also looked bright when replacing Isak in the second-half. The French winger made his debut at Portman Road, having joined from Paris Saint-Germain for £123m earlier this week.

But at the back, Liverpool also looked much stronger and more secure. Virgil van Dijk was imperious, but Ronald Araujo also provided something of a solution at right-back.

How Araujo can ease Liverpool's right-back conundrum

For the first two weeks of the campaign, Liverpool had flattered to deceive in the Premier League, drawing 2-2 against Newcastle United and then Brentford. They were fragile in defence.

At the epicentre of this concerning situation has been Jeremie Frimpong, who lost the ball 32 times and failed in 58% of his duels over those first two fixtures. Understandably, Iraola dropped him against Ipswich, with loanee Araujo stepping in.

Conor Bradley is not expected back for months yet after sustaining a knee injury against Arsenal at the start of the year. What a shame. The Northern Irish talent is a fantastic full-back, athletic and mobile and roving.

Araujo might not be the most dynamic or progressive right-back in the Premier League, but he's up for a physical battle, winning nine duels - including all six of his aerial battles.

The 6 foot 3 colossus offers a different dimension, but there will be times that call for a more conventional right-sider. If Bradley is still sidelined and Iraola deems Frimpong to be unfit for the task, there is an emerging academy star who could be called upon.

Iraola must unleash Liverpool academy star

The sooner that Bradley is fit and flying in a Liverpool shirt again, the better. But that may not be for some time, and if Iraola feels that dropping Dominik Szoboszlai into a makeshift right-back berth will hinder his system, perhaps he should indeed turn to a rising star at the level below.

Now that the transfer window is done, Liverpool have submitted their 25-man roster to the Premier League. Included is academy member Isaac Mabaya, who made his competitive debut for the Reds in 2024/25, when Arne Slot's side were beaten by Plymouth Argyle in the FA Cup.

Mabaya, 21 years old, has featured 74 times for Liverpool's development outfits, scoring six goals and supplying 12 assists. Last season, he played three times on loan for Wigan Athletic in League One before suffering a serious Achilles injury, scuppering the move.

However, he is fit once again, having started twice in the Premier League 2 for the U21s, registering an assist during a recent win over Leeds United.

It's not likely that Iraola will start him each week, but it does provide a new dimension - also illustrating exactly how grave Liverpool's problems are on the right side of defence.

Hailed as a "very talented right-back who has had bad luck with injuries" by Liverpool reporter Bence Bocsak, Mabaya is defensively sound and a high-volume dueller. He is also quick and intelligent on the ball, covering width up the right flank that could help stretch lines.

It might not be the perfect solution, but when have Liverpool ever had one of those? The fact that Iraola has promoted him suggests that he has the capacity to make a positive impression over the next few months, offering something more conventional than that of Araujo and Frimpong.