Arne Slot singled out three Liverpool players for praise after the 1-1 draw with Burnley, feeling the Reds’ poor results are hiding their good form.
It was yet another afternoon to forget for the champions on Saturday, with two more points dropped in the Premier League.
Despite this, there were individuals who caught the eye, not least Florian Wirtz, who put Liverpool 1-0 up with a superb strike.
Speaking in his post-match press conference, Slot praised the in-form German, as well as fellow new signings Jeremie Frimpong and Milos Kerkez.
“I think we all have a lot of frustration about the result,” Slot said.
“Sometimes it’s also a bit of a frustration for me that all the development some players are going through is not being seen because the results don’t show how the development of the team and individual players is.
“You are talking about Milos and I completely agree – he had another good game.
“I saw Florian scoring another great goal and he was involved in a lot of other moments as well.
“Jeremie Frimpong, another good game of him – a big, big, big threat on that right side.”
Promising start to 2026 for Liverpool’s new trio
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Saturday, January 17, 2026: Liverpool's Florian Wirtz celebrates after scoring the first goal during the FA Premier League match between Liverpool FC and Burnley FC at Anfield. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
Liverpool supporters are finding themselves scrambling for positives during such a limp defence of the Premier League title.
The form of Wirtz, Frimpong and Kerkez is a definite plus-point though, with the former now scoring four goals in his last six games.
As for Frimpong and Kerkez, both have started 2026 in promising fashion having struggled to impress in the first half of the season.
Frimpong has improved in terms of his end product, scoring in ruthless fashion against Barnsley in the FA Cup, and he looks fitter after overcoming injury problems.
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Monday, January 12, 2026: Liverpool's Jeremie Frimpong celebrates with team-mate Rio Ngumoha (L) after scoring his side's second goal during the FA Cup 3rd Round match between Liverpool FC and Barnsley FC at Anfield. Liverpool won 4-1. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
Meanwhile Kerkez has gone up a level and was excellent in the first half of the Burnley game, also keeping Bukayo Saka quiet in the 0-0 draw away to Arsenal.
Until the turn of the year Hugo Ekitike felt like Liverpool’s only successful signing of last summer, but his fellow new recruits are now heading in the right direction.
It is a reminder that new signings, especially young ones, often need time to adjust to their new surroundings, both on and off the pitch.
Wirtz and Kerkez are both still only 22 while Frimpong recently turned 25, so they have been too harshly judged at times.