Liverpool boss Arne Slot has lifted the lid on one of the big reasons behind the signing of Jeremie Frimpong – and it’s not just about replacing Trent Alexander-Arnold.
The £29m arrival from Bayer Leverkusen was expected to compete with Conor Bradley at right-back, but Slot has made it clear Frimpong’s role could be far more versatile. When Mohamed Salah heads off to Morocco for the Africa Cup of Nations (December 21 – January 18), potentially missing up to six Premier League matches, Slot is ready to unleash Frimpong in an unexpected position – on the right wing.
> “We thought about how to cope without Mo for potentially six games – that’s quite a lot,” Slot explained. “Jeremie can play at right-back but also as a winger. That versatility was a big factor in signing him.”
It’s been a busy summer at Anfield, with nearly £300m spent on new faces and around £150m recouped in sales. Yet, alongside the high-profile deals, one teenager has stolen the pre-season spotlight – Rio Ngumoha.
The 16-year-old academy sensation impressed in recent friendlies, earning comparisons to past young stars who broke through early. Slot, however, remains cautious, stressing the step-up in intensity from academy football to the senior stage.
> “It’s already great if they can play well once a week at this age,” he said. “We’re focused on developing them, but it’s promising to see Rio and Trey Nyoni stepping up in recent games.”
With the Community Shield just around the corner, the Reds are shaping up for a campaign where depth, adaptability, and youth could prove just as important as marquee signings.
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