There are plenty of fresh faces at Liverpool, including two new arrivals at fullback in the wake of Trent Alexander-Arnold&#8217;s departure.
Here, we take a look at the key issues from a Fantasy Premier League (FPL) perspective and assess whether the Reds&#8217; new defensive arrivals are worth considering in Gameweek 1.
View our top three Liverpool FPL players for Gameweek 1 &#8211; and all of our pre-season content &#8211; in our <a href="https://www.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/fantasy-premier-league-ultimate-guide-fpl-tips/">Ultimate Guide to FPL</a>.

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<h2>Bradley and Frimpong to compete &#8211; or play together?</h2>
Conor Bradley failed to make Liverpool’s bench for the Community Shield, and as such Frimpong looks set to start the season at right-back.
Joe Gomez is also injured heading into Gameweek 1, which makes the attack-minded Frimpong the clear choice for the time being.
Longer term, there is talk of Frimpong being used as a backup for Mohamed Salah on the right-hand side of attack, which could make him an interesting out-of-position option in FPL.
This will be particularly relevant during AFCON when Salah is away, and Frimpong&#8217;s ownership is likely to shoot up during that period, when Bradley will presumably be the man at right-back
<div id="attachment_74041" style="width: 850px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-74041" class="size-full wp-image-74041" src="https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/playerstats-Bradley-bordered.jpeg" alt="" width="840" height="690" srcset="https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/playerstats-Bradley-bordered.jpeg 840w, https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/playerstats-Bradley-bordered-300x246.jpeg 300w, https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/playerstats-Bradley-bordered-768x631.jpeg 768w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 840px) 100vw, 840px" />Conor Bradley&#8217;s <a href="https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/opta/" data-internallinksmanager029f6b8e52c="1" title="FPL Stats by OPTA - Player and Team Stats">stats</a></div>
It looked to be a close call between the pair heading into the new season, but injury has made the decision for Arne Slot.
As such, Frimpong looks like an excellent option to start the season, and it&#8217;s no surprise that he&#8217;s the most popular defender in the game right now having bagged 23 goals for his previous club Bayer Leverkusen.
His freak goal in the Community Shield will only have bumped that figure up further, and we can expect to see him in plenty of dangerous positions in the opening weeks of the season.
<div id="attachment_74027" style="width: 1034px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-74027" class="size-full wp-image-74027" src="https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/GettyImages-2227837864.jpg" alt="" width="1024" height="683" srcset="https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/GettyImages-2227837864.jpg 1024w, https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/GettyImages-2227837864-300x200.jpg 300w, https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/GettyImages-2227837864-768x512.jpg 768w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" />Jeremie Frimpong. Picture by Getty Images</div>
Despite Arne Slot stating that he is targeting a return from injury soon, Conor Bradley didn’t even make Liverpool’s bench for the Community Shield.
Joe Gomez is also injured heading into Gameweek 1, which makes the attack-minded Frimpong Liverpool’s only available senior right-back.
His stock is high following a somewhat fortunate goal in the community shield, and the Netherlands international is currently the highest owned defender in the game.
<div id="attachment_64719" class="wp-caption alignnone">
<div id="attachment_64719" style="width: 1034px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-64719" class="size-full wp-image-64719" src="https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Frimpong.jpg" alt="" width="1024" height="683" srcset="https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Frimpong.jpg 1024w, https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Frimpong-300x200.jpg 300w, https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Frimpong-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Frimpong-610x407.jpg 610w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" />Jeremie Frimpong. Picture by Getty Images</div>
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The Dutchman has hit double figures for attacking returns in four consecutive seasons, but that may not be enough to deter FPL managers from opting for a perceived safer pick in Virgil van Dijk.
Like many centre-backs van Dijk is likely to pick up <a href="https://www.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/fpl-2025-26-changes-defensive-contributions/">extra defensive points</a> this season, and combined with his existing goal threat he certainly looks like a strong option too.
Frimpong is likely to have a higher ceiling however, and will hope to build a relationship with Mohamed Salah that allows both to flourish in attack &#8211; there are certainly worse wingers to share a flank with, as Salah tends to perform well in terms of defensive work-rate too.
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<h2>Kerkez to displace Robertson &#8211; but early substitutions likely</h2>
Andy Robertson found himself used as a left-sided centre-back in pre-season, although he did pick up some minutes at left-back too.
Having recently been named vice-captain, his position at the club remains secure, but the Scotland captain does appear to have dropped out of the starting XI.
It wasn&#8217;t a vintage season for Robertson, and with Kostas Tsimikas still expected to leave in the transfer window, new signing Milos Kerkez looks to be the main man in that position now.
<div id="attachment_74042" style="width: 850px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-74042" class="size-full wp-image-74042" src="https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/playerstats-Robertson-bordered.jpeg" alt="" width="840" height="690" srcset="https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/playerstats-Robertson-bordered.jpeg 840w, https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/playerstats-Robertson-bordered-300x246.jpeg 300w, https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/playerstats-Robertson-bordered-768x631.jpeg 768w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 840px) 100vw, 840px" />Andy Robertson&#8217;s <a href="https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/opta/" data-internallinksmanager029f6b8e52c="1" title="FPL Stats by OPTA - Player and Team Stats">stats</a></div>
Kerkez has already shown attacking intent on the left for Liverpool, and his energy and pace should give Liverpool a new dimension down that flank.
He has also shown the capability to invert at times, but given Cody Gakpo has a tendency to cut inside, we are more likely to see overlaps from Kerkez in Liverpool&#8217;s current setup.
With eight attacking returns for Bournemouth last season, the Hungary international will be confident of bettering that tally playing for the league champions.
<div id="attachment_74039" style="width: 1034px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-74039" class="size-full wp-image-74039" src="https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/GettyImages-2227864280.jpg" alt="" width="1024" height="683" srcset="https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/GettyImages-2227864280.jpg 1024w, https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/GettyImages-2227864280-300x200.jpg 300w, https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/GettyImages-2227864280-768x512.jpg 768w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" />Milos Kerkez. Picture by Getty Images</div>
Whether he is an optimal FPL pick is another question. Robertson will continue to pick up minutes, which could mean early substitutions for Kerkez.
This can be a double-edged sword for defenders in terms of locking in a potential clean sheet, but missing out on the opportunity to pick up further attacking returns and defensive contribution points.
With Frimpong the same price and lacking the same degree of competition, it&#8217;s hard to make an argument for Kerkez as the strongest defensive pick from Liverpool heading into Gameweek 1.
<div id="attachment_74040" style="width: 850px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-74040" class="size-full wp-image-74040" src="https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/playerstats-Kerkez-bordered-1.jpeg" alt="" width="840" height="690" srcset="https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/playerstats-Kerkez-bordered-1.jpeg 840w, https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/playerstats-Kerkez-bordered-1-300x246.jpeg 300w, https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/playerstats-Kerkez-bordered-1-768x631.jpeg 768w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 840px) 100vw, 840px" />Milos Kerkez&#8217; <a href="https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/opta/" data-internallinksmanager029f6b8e52c="1" title="FPL Stats by OPTA - Player and Team Stats">stats</a></div>
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Liverpool’s new look fullbacks: Frimpong and Kerkez to provide FPL value?

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