Liverpool head coach Arne Slot. (Photo by Oli SCARFF / AFP via Getty Images)placeholder image
Liverpool head coach Arne Slot. (Photo by Oli SCARFF / AFP via Getty Images) | AFP via Getty Images
The Liverpool head coach discussed the performance of Jeremie Frimpong after the victory over Wolves.
Arne Slot believes that Jeremie Frimpong’s performance in Liverpool’s victory over Wolverhampton Wanderers showed why he was signed.
Frimpong moved to the Reds from Bayer Leverkusen for a fee of £29 million in the summer transfer window. The Netherlands international enjoyed a sensation period at Leverkusen, recording 30 goals and 44 assists in 190 appearances. He was part of Die Werkself’s side that won the Bundesliga title and DFB-Pokal in the 2023-24 campaign.
However, Frimpong has had a soft launch to his Liverpool career. Two hamstring injuries have limited his chances, with his most recent issue sidelining him for two months. But the former Celtic man assisted Hugo Ekitike’s goal in the Reds’2-1 win over Tottenham before he was handed his first Premier League start since August against Wolves.
And Frimpong displayed his quality by teeing-up Ryan Gravenberch’s opening goal in the 2-1 triumph. Frimpong put on the afterburners to get to the byline and pull back a cross for Gravenberch to sweep home.
Frimpong was one of seven summer signings, with Liverpool spending circa £450 million in the summer transfer window. And the pace that he showed to engineer Gravenberch’s intervention was hailed as ‘pure individual quality. Speaking at his post-match press conference, the Anfield head coach said: “A lot has been said about the amount of money that has been spent, no one talked about what has been recouped because we sold so many. But from the players we bought, we unfortunately couldn’t see the best of Alex [Isak], Giovanni Leoni has been injured after his first game and Jeremie Frimpong has hardly been available as well. It’s not nice everyone is talking about we have spent so much and nobody talking about what we sold.
“We were not always able to use the players we brought in. Jeremie is an example. If he is fit, he can definitely help us. Last week he had the assist against Tottenham and today. Pace, that is what he has and that is so important and crucial in modern-day football. To play against a low block, teams that defend with so many players, usually teams break this down with set-pieces. That is not our biggest strength and to have him available with his pace because the goal we scored the first one was pure individual ability; quick, the cutback cross and we’re positioned in the right position.
“But that is the pace I always wanted to bring in during the summer and that’s what we did with Hugo, with Jeremie and Alex as well but, unfortunately, not all of the money we have spent we have used that and that has to do with the injuries of these players.”
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