Liverpool are dealing with the unfamiliar sting of a Premier League defeat after just their second loss of the season.

The Reds headed to Fulham with the hope of moving 14 points clear at the top of the table on Sunday, but were deservedly beaten instead.

There was plenty to dislike about a Liverpool performance in which they never really found their level.

But perhaps top of that particular pile was the showing of the Liverpool defence, which was all at sea during a worrying first-half.

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Without a recognised right-back in the XI, maybe it should not have been a surprise that the Reds could not handle what Fulham threw at them.

And while plenty of questions have rightly been asked about Arne Slot picking Curtis Jones out of position again, pundit Frank Leboeuf has spared a thought for poor Jarell Quansah.

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Former Liverpool full-back Steve Nicol was furious with Slot for picking Jones out of position during what was always going to be a tough away day at Fulham.

Jones did fine against Everton but this was a different kettle of fish.

With Conor Bradley not fit enough to start, surely Quansah was the better option.

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But even when Slot did eventually change things, bringing Bradley on for Ibrahima Konate and rejigging his defence, Quansah was nowhere to be seen.

According to Leboeuf, if he was in the Liverpool academy graduate’s shoes, he would not be happy at all.

READ MORE: Liverpool players told to start ‘looking over their shoulders’ after lacklustre Fulham defeat

“It’s not the players we have known and also the coach,” he told ESPN FC.

“I mean, if I’m Quansah, what do I think?

You have to put Jones at right-back, when you put Konate out you put somebody else in the middle of the park and you keep Quansah on the bench?

“There’s something wrong with the coach as well.”

After seeing what his teammates served up on Sunday, Quansah would have every right to be furious with Slot.

He may not be a right-back himself, but the 22-year-old has done well playing there on occasion this season.

Slot should have picked him.

AppearancesStartsMinutesPremier League102286Champions League42229FA Cup22180EFL Cup64392Jarell Quansah Liverpool 2024/25

We posed the question before the game about whether Slot overlooking Quansah could be a bad sign for the defender and his Liverpool future, and you’d have to say that this does now feel to be the case.

The Liverpool head coach seemed determined to change everything else before even considering Quansah on Sunday.

With Bradley now back to fitness, his chances of playing further games this season look to have been reduced again, too.
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