New signings all the time carry 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 very best place would most likely be that of a right-winger in an old school 4-4-2 or a proper wing-back exterior a again three. You might 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 alter nothing. In spite of everything, the workforce have already been working with a right-back whose essential tasks lie in assault.
Although Trent Alexander-Arnold and Frimpong are very totally different gamers, the concept that the proper full-back space would possibly want some cowl in the course of the transition from assault to defence just isn’t 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 Lately Described Szoboszlai as “the perfect urgent participant in Europe proper now.”
Gravenberch, in the meantime, often lined across the right-back space in defence, together with Konate, who would generally cease assaults nearer to the supply with a deal with or header in midfield.
The way in which these two gamers drained in the direction of the tip of the season backed up how a lot that they had labored all through it, and means that what may be wanted in 2025/26 just isn’t 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 can have been extra central as soon as the ball was misplaced, which, in concept, permits for higher defensive positioning instantly after shedding possession.
Frimpong, alternatively, will probably 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 could possibly be again ready to defend a lot faster than his predecessor – the No. 66 was typically simply bypassed in these central areas.
There’s a variety of speak about this new, buccaneering right-back altering the way in which Liverpool play, however they might simply hold issues the way in which they’re.
Although the departed and the arrival are totally different in model, Liverpool are nonetheless changing one right-back who just isn’t actually a right-back with one other right-back who just isn’t actually a right-back.
How the midfield can adapt
The midfield dynamic is one thing that would change with the brand new arrivals, particularly if Florian Wirtz is added to the workforce. Szoboszlai has the power 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 tip of the 2024/25 season as soon as the title was received, when Wataru Endo or Gravenberch dropped nearer to and virtually between the centre-backs in possession, forming a again three of kinds.
This was particularly noticeable within the recreation in opposition to Brighton, when Szoboszlai’s function additionally modified to that of a No. 8 on the left, reasonably than his common superior function on the proper.
A again three in possession can be fashioned by one of many full-backs hanging again and performing as a large centre-back on one aspect, as Andy Robertson did on events throughout Klopp’s closing season, however potential new left-back Milos Kerkez is unlikely to stay deep.
As an alternative, Gravenberch would probably 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 difficulty with this setup could possibly be the shortage of deeper build-up choices on the proper.
Frimpong is used to flying up the proper flank into the ultimate third, underlapping, overlapping, roaming free and is simplest when getting on the tip 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 every so often – providing the pace and skill to beat gamers Salah as soon as had, whereas additionally complementing the Egyptian’s elevated artistic output by being an extra choice for by way of 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 could give the Hungarian much more work to do. Towards 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.
Preserving the double pivot of Gravenberch and Alexis Mac Allister may be a greater choice than switching to at least one deep-lying midfielder, however at the very least the choice is there to attempt one thing totally different when wanted.
Choices and flexibility
Throughout switch season, there tends to be a fixation with a single greatest XI reasonably than the truth 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 that they had 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 workforce and altered dynamics in midfield and defence, however it doesn’t have to.
