Liverpool’s swift resurgence over the last ten years has been facilitated by their dynamic full-backs, with Jürgen Klopp revolutionizing the club’s approach to wide play.
The relentless energy and creative prowess of Trent Alexander-Arnold and Andrew Robertson have been crucial to the team’s achievements; however, one half of this duo will be missing next season.
The latter has transferred to Real Madrid on a free deal, leaving a significant gap in Liverpool’s right-back position.
The Reds have promptly responded in their search for Alexander-Arnold’s replacement.
Jeremie Frimpong has been recognized as the perfect successor, and Liverpool has acted quickly to finalize a deal, activating the £30 million ($40.4 million) release clause in his contract with Bayer Leverkusen.
Although Alexander-Arnold’s exit has been a considerable setback, the swift acquisition of the Scouser’s replacement has boosted team morale.
Frimpong’s addition, along with the rise of Conor Bradley, has instilled a sense of optimism among supporters despite the departure of one of the world’s elite players.
But how does Frimpong measure up against Alexander-Arnold and Bradley? What can Liverpool anticipate from their new signing?
Liverpool’s full backs have become renowned for their relentless attacking contributions.
Under Klopp and to a lesser extent under Arne Slot, the width provided by the marauding Alexander-Arnold and Robertson has been key to unlocking opposition defences, especially those intent on sitting deep and frustrating the Reds.
While goalscoring has generally been left to Mohamed Salah down Liverpool’s right, Alexander-Arnold has been the assist king. 23 strikes are far outweighed by an astonishing 92 assists in 354 appearances, with the Englishman establishing himself as one of the world’s best distributors.
Whether from set pieces or open play, his deliveries and long-range passing have been integral to the club’s attacking play.
Bradley draws more parallels with Robertson than Alexander-Arnold in style and has also become an offensive threat.
He’s managed a goal and 11 assists in 57 appearances—contributing to a goal approximately every five outings—and is a menace with his lung-busting bursts down the flank.
Frimpong arrives with a similarly attacking reputation.
The versatile 24-year-old, who has operated across the right-hand side for current employers Bayer Leverkusen, has been a revelation in the final third for the 2023–24 Bundesliga champions.
In four-and-a-half seasons he’s produced 30 goals and 44 assists, often taking up extremely high positions as a wing back or even an orthodox winger.
In swapping Alexander-Arnold for Frimpong, Liverpool certainly won’t lose any attacking muscle. In fact, they could gain some.
Alexander-Arnold’s primary shortcoming lies in his defensive capabilities, which is less than ideal for a right back tasked with facing some of the finest wingers in both the Premier League and Champions League.
The 26-year-old has frequently been vulnerable due to his positioning and struggles in one-on-one encounters, although it is important to note that he is not as defensively deficient as many suggest.
In contrast, Bradley embodies a more conventional right back, seemingly thriving in physical confrontations with opposing wingers, a challenge that Alexander-Arnold has often shied away from.
His performance in neutralizing Kylian Mbappé during Liverpool’s triumph over Real Madrid earlier this season was particularly telling, although the 21-year-old still has potential for defensive enhancement.
Frimpong has received praise for his offensive capabilities, yet it remains uncertain whether he can perform effectively within a flat back four.
Benefiting from defensive support in Xabi Alonso’s 3-4-3 formation at Leverkusen, the Dutch international is afforded the freedom to adopt a more aggressive approach in individual duels.
Additionally, he is required to engage in significantly less defensive work compared to Alexander-Arnold and Bradley.
This season, Frimpong has recorded an average of only 1.13 tackles per 90 minutes, in contrast to Alexander-Arnold’s 2.74 and Bradley’s 1.79. Furthermore, he averages fewer interceptions and clearances than the Liverpool pair.
In terms of tackle success rate, he boasts a marginally higher percentage than Alexander-Arnold, yet falls short of Bradley’s figures.
Due to their positional variances, it is challenging to draw direct comparisons between Frimpong and Liverpool’s right backs.
However, it is clear that the Reds are acquiring the former Celtic player primarily for his offensive skills rather than his defensive reliability.
For £30 million, Frimpong’s signing is simply a no-brainer for Liverpool.
He’s one of the best attacking full backs in world football—if not the best—and has been mentored well by Alonso.
He’s versatile, has room to improve and is joining a squad in which he has established relationships with several international teammates.
He will not offer the same passing wizardry as Alexander-Arnold but, like his soon to be teammate Bradley, is an indefatigable runner who loves to take advanced positions.
Defensively he’s no slouch, but he’s not renowned for crunching tackles or last-ditch blocks.
Perhaps that’s an area of his game Slot feels he can improve in the coming years.
But Frimpong’s success could well hinge on how he’s utilised.
Should Liverpool play him as a right wing back, which would require a significant formation shift, then he will undoubtedly prove an exceptional asset for the Reds.
However, using him as an orthodox right back in the Reds’ current setup could leave him exposed defensively, especially with the attack-minded Salah in front of him on the wing.