New signings all the time deliver new inquiries to be answered and theories as to how they may slot in, however few have sparked as a lot tactical dialogue as Jeremie Frimpong.
Frimpong’s arrival for £29.5 million from Bayer Leverkusen has led to concepts as to how Arne Slot will compensate for having such an attacking participant at right-back.
The 24-year-old’s ideally suited place would most likely be that of a right-winger in an old style 4-4-2 or a proper wing-back exterior a again three. You could possibly additionally envision him enjoying as a winger in a entrance three, however as a right-back in a again 4?
In Bayer Leverkusen’s official announcement of Frimpong’s departure, his place was described in German as ‘Flügelsprinter’, which interprets actually to English as wing-sprinter.
German has many phrases for such roles, with refined variations relying on the kind of participant (e.g. ‘Flügelflitzer’, which interprets to one thing like wing-dasher or speedster), however sprinter is an apt description of Frimpong.
How will Liverpool accommodate such an attacking full-back in a again 4?
One choice is to vary nothing. In any case, the crew have already been working with a right-back whose fundamental tasks lie in assault.
Although Trent Alexander-Arnold and Frimpong are very completely different gamers, the concept the best full-back space may want some cowl in the course of the transition from assault to defence is just not a brand new one for Liverpool.
The attacking proper flank of Alexander-Arnold and Mohamed Salah was given an insurance coverage coverage by two hard-working midfield gamers, Dominik Szoboszlai and Ryan Gravenberch, in addition to the tempo, positioning, and front-foot duelling of centre-back Ibrahima Konate.
Jurgen Klopp just lately described Szoboszlai as “the most effective urgent participant in Europe proper now.”
Gravenberch, in the meantime, often coated across the right-back space in defence, together with Konate, who would generally cease assaults nearer to the supply with a sort out or header in midfield.
The best way these two gamers drained in the direction of the top of the season backed up how a lot they’d labored all through it, and means that what is perhaps wanted in 2025/26 is just not essentially a tactical change, however extra trusted back-up and rotation choices in present midfield areas.
One distinction between Alexander-Arnold and Frimpong is that Trent may have been extra central as soon as the ball was misplaced, which, in idea, permits for higher defensive positioning instantly after shedding possession.
Frimpong, however, will seemingly be wider or additional ahead, leaving him out of the sport for that vital preliminary transition second.
One factor Frimpong has over Alexander-Arnold, although, is restoration tempo, and he might be again ready to defend a lot faster than his predecessor – the No. 66 was typically simply bypassed in these central areas.
There’s numerous speak about this new, buccaneering right-back altering the best way Liverpool play, however they might simply preserve issues the best way they’re.
Although the departed and the arrival are completely different in fashion, Liverpool are nonetheless changing one right-back who is just not actually a right-back with one other right-back who is just not actually a right-back.
How the midfield can adapt
The midfield dynamic is one thing that might change with the brand new arrivals, particularly if Florian Wirtz is added to the crew. Szoboszlai has the flexibility to play as a No. 8 and has indicated he would get pleasure from doing so.
This brings us to the opposite choice, which is one thing that was seen in bursts in the direction of the top of the 2024/25 season as soon as the title was received, when Wataru Endo or Gravenberch dropped nearer to and nearly between the centre-backs in possession, forming a again three of kinds.
This was particularly noticeable within the sport towards Brighton, when Szoboszlai’s function additionally modified to that of a No. 8 on the left, reasonably than his common superior function on the best.
A again three in possession may also be fashioned by one of many full-backs hanging again and appearing as a large centre-back on one facet, as Andy Robertson did on events throughout Klopp’s ultimate season, however potential new left-back Milos Kerkez is unlikely to stay deep.
As a substitute, Gravenberch would seemingly be the one to drop between the 2 centre-backs, in a basic continental 4-3-3 formation with a 1-2 lineup in midfield utilizing a regista-like playmaker.
A danger of making issues reasonably than fixing them
One challenge with this setup might be the dearth of deeper build-up choices on the best.
Frimpong is used to flying up the best flank into the ultimate third, underlapping, overlapping, roaming free and is simplest when getting on the top of issues, stretching the defence within the opposition half reasonably than getting slowed down in build-up play.
He has the potential to hyperlink properly with Salah in superior areas – and even deputise for Salah once in a while – providing the velocity and talent to beat gamers Salah as soon as had, whereas additionally complementing the Egyptian’s elevated inventive output by being a further choice for via balls.
However the place will the right-sided build-up come from when there is just one deep-lying midfielder and the right-back is bombing ahead?
It may come from Szoboszlai dropping deeper, however it might give the Hungarian much more work to do. In opposition to Brighton, when this type of 4-1-2-3 setup was examined, Slot retained the extra attacking proper midfielder with Harvey Elliott enjoying that function usually occupied by Szoboszlai.
Retaining the double pivot of Gravenberch and Alexis Mac Allister is perhaps a greater choice than switching to at least one deep-lying midfielder, however not less than the choice is there to attempt one thing completely different when wanted.
Choices and flexibility
Throughout switch season, there tends to be a fixation with a single greatest XI reasonably than the fact of a 25-man squad.
The place will all these gamers match? There are greater than 11 good ones!
It’s a good drawback to have. Liverpool want extra depth and rotation choices than they’d up to now season in addition to extra gamers whom the supervisor trusts.
New signings, particularly versatile ones, can have a optimistic knock-on impact in different areas.
Frimpong’s arrival may imply adjustments for the remainder of the crew and altered dynamics in midfield and defence, nevertheless it doesn’t have to.
