New signing Jeremie Frimpong is not good enough to start for Liverpool, Steve Nicol has declared, claiming he doesn’t see where he fits in.
Liverpool signed the 24-year-old right-back for £29.5m to replace Trent Alexander-Arnold after the Scouser ran his contract down to opt for a move to Real Madrid on a free transfer.
All in all, the reaction to Frimpong moving to Anfield has been positive with the move seen as an astute move to replace a player that is essentially irreplaceable.
As much as the hurt of Alexander-Arnold’s exit will take time to heal, there is no denying the 25-year-old has no peer in terms of what he offers from fullback.
But, Frimpong is a different player and actually what Arne Slot has historically preferred from his fullbacks. Pace, 1v1 ability and the ability to dominate an entire flank.
As a result, it wouldn’t be surprising to see Mohamed Salah deployed narrower than we’ve seen him since his first season when he often played at striker in Jurgen Klopp’s fluid attack featuring Coutinho, Firmino and Mane.
Nicol, however, postures that Frimpong will get in Salah’s way in the way he bombs forward.
“I don’t think Frimpong starts” for Liverpool next season, Steve Nicol says
Speaking on ESPN FC, the former Liverpool player has admitted confusion to the vision behind signing Frimpong despite the encouraging stats and accomplishments the defender boasts.
“If Salah’s not fit then Frimpong starts where Salah plays,” Nicol began.
“I’m interested to see what Arne Slot wants him to do. Because right now, in my head, I’m thinking ‘is he going to get in Salah’s way?’ That’s what I’m thinking.”
While Nicol reckons Frimpong will impede Salah’s dominance on the right flank with his overlapping runs but the reality is that Alexander-Arnold often played a larger role in expanding the game with medium and long passes and has never really been a driving force in the creativity behind Salah’s game.
In his 354 games for Liverpool, Alexander-Arnold assisted 13 goals for Salah which is not insignificant but Frimpong is a fullback that will likely interact with Salah a lot more while providing more support in tracking back.
Nicol continued: “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.”
