Liverpool are getting their transfer business done early with some statement signings, but Jeremie Frimpong’s arrival is much smarter than people may think.
Winning the Premier League is one thing, but staying at the top is another, although Liverpool’s plans are firmly in place to try and achieve this.
Arne Slot may have lost a key player as Trent Alexander-Arnold is departing for Real Madrid, but they have been swift to replace him, with Bayer Leverkusen’s Jeremie Frimpong the man tasked with doing this.
Despite being an excellent reinforcement along the backline and competition for Conor Bradley, his arrival offers much more than this and shows just how smart the Liverpool hierarchy are.
Jeremie Frimpong could provide cover for Mohamed Salah
Every two years, Liverpool fans worry about how they will manage without Mohamed Salah when he goes to the African Cup of Nations, but Frimpong can provide excellent cover in his absence next season, which could be up to 10 games.
The Dutchman often operates as a wing-back or even right midfielder, meaning that he is in control of the entire flank, with a large majority of Leverkusen’s goals coming from his side.
His output in the final third is driven by his ball-carrying ability, electrifying pace and composure in and around the box, all traits that Salah is synonymous with.
Sourcing a replacement for the Egyptian has proven near impossible in the past as the Reds have to find a player who does not mind playing very little while Salah is available, while ensuring they have the quality to compete and do not come at too high a cost.
However, Frimpong seems to have solved this issue, with his ability and versatility advantageous and something that could be paramount in Liverpool’s tricky period while their top scorer is on international duty.
How do Frimpong and Conor Bradley compare?
Liverpool’s right-hand side of defence now looks set for a number of years, with Bradley signing a new long-term deal at the club and Frimpong coming in as a reinforcement.
| League Stats This Season | Conor Bradley | Jeremie Frimpong |
| Appearances | 17 | 33 |
| Goals | 1 | 5 |
| Assists | 0 | 5 |
| Crosses | 6 | 94 |
| Pass Accuracy (%) | 83.8 | 83.84 |
| Tackles | 13 | 215 |
Although the statistics sway heavily in Frimpong’s favour, ability has never been the issue with the Northern Irishman, instead, it is his injury record, with questions over whether Bradley can replace Alexander-Arnold being raised.
He has missed 48 games through injury across the last two seasons, meaning Frimpong’s arrival will hopefully help him manage his issues, particularly as the Dutchman’s availability is nothing short of excellent, missing just two games in as many seasons.
Both players have a very similar style of play, but equally, both can offer very different things depending on Liverpool’s needs, making this battle for the right-back position an exciting one to look out for.
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