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Liverpool will have a very fresh look to their starting XI next season after making a number of moves in the summer transfer market.
Arne Slot kept his Reds team virtually the same as Jurgen Klopp’s during his successful, debut campaign in charge.
But after a year of assessing the Liverpool squad, Slot is ringing the changes ahead of 2025/26.
Two players have already been newly unveiled, with Bayer Leverkusen pair Florian Wirtz and Jeremie Frimpong arriving to bolster the right-back and forward options.
Wirtz’s arrival has generated excitement, with Liverpool paying what could become a record transfer fee for the German.
However, Frimpong is an intriguing addition as well.
Photo by Nikki Dyer – LFC/Liverpool FC via Getty Images
Although Frimpong has seemingly been brought in to play at some of the time at right-back, he is clearly not an orthodox full-back.
Netherlands manager Ronald Koeman has been playing Frimpong at right wing and there have been suggestions he will be used in the forward line by Arne Slot as well.
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According to Nicol, though, when Liverpool’s best XI is fit and available, Frimpong should not be starting in either of these positions.
“If Salah’s not fit then Frimpong starts where Salah plays,” the Liverpool legend told ESPN FC.
Because right now, in my head, I’m thinking ‘is he going to get in Salah’s way?’ That’s what I’m thinking.”
READ MORE: Callum Hudson-Odoi reveals Jeremie Frimpong chat and explains where Florian Wirtz will play for Liverpool
“Defensively, it’s not good, just the same as Trent [Alexander-Arnold], he’s not that good a defender,” adds Nicol.
“But going forward he’s got different attributes to what Trent had but again, I keep ending up at the same thing, is he going to get in Salah’s way?
“I think absolutely if everybody’s fit [Conor] Bradley starts, I don’t think Frimpong starts.
I don’t see where he fits in, I really don’t.”
Even if Frimpong is not a nailed on starter for Liverpool, the argument that he does not improve the squad is not a convincing one.
SeasonTeamAppearancesGoalsAssists2019/20Celtic21212020/21Celtic30132020/21Bayer Leverkusen13012021/22Bayer Leverkusen34282022/23Bayer Leverkusen489102023/24Bayer Leverkusen4714102024/25Bayer Leverkusen4859Jeremie Frimpong career statistics
The 24-year-old has bags of experience of winning at the top level and obviously has a lot of quality.
It probably is true that Frimpong will not initially be a starter in Slot’s team, but with plenty of question marks over Conor Bradley’s fitness, it may not be long before he gets his chance.
In terms of playing further forward, Frimpong will be key when Mohamed Salah travels to AFCON with Egypt.
Liverpool are playing some big games while Salah is away and to have someone like the former Celtic man come in will be a real bonus.
So, while Frimpong may have to get used to a little bit more bench duty than he’s used to, we still think Nicol will end up being proved wrong here.
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