Liverpool star Jeremie Frimpong will face a battle to get back into the team after a difficult start to the season, as he faces a similar problem to Trent Alexander-Arnold
Jeremie Frimpong of Liverpool during the Carabao Cup Third Round match between Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur
Jeremie Frimpong faces a challenge to get back into the team at Liverpool(Image: (Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images))
Jeremie Frimpong has struggled since making his switch to Liverpool, with his difficulties not too dissimilar to those of Trent Alexander-Arnold at Real Madrid.
The pair have had a few years where their futures have been intertwined. In 2025, Alexander-Arnold's exit from Anfield paved the way for Frimpong to join the Reds, filling the void at right-back.
The 25-year-old faced difficulties over his first season at Liverpool, with injuries and a lack of form impacting his ability to guarantee a place in the starting lineup each week.
It was an issue that mimicked the problems that Alexander-Arnold had at Real Madrid for his first campaign, with the new campaign bringing about a change in manager and some hopes that fortunes would change.
So far, however, the two right-backs have struggled to kick on in the early weeks of the season. For the Real Madrid ace, the challenges have been the summer arrival of a rival in his position, with Denzel Dumfries moving from Inter Milan to the Bernabeu to compete for a place in the starting lineup.
Jose Mourinho has opted for the Netherlands international as the preferred option so far, with Alexander-Arnold being made to work for his place back in the team.
The scenario is eerily similar to Frimpong's, who started out as the starting right-back for Andoni Iraola, but has since slipped down the pecking order to a summer transfer arrival.
The head coach has recently turned to Ronald Araujo as his right-back of choice, with the Uruguayan international offering the defensive stability and relentless running that have been missing at times in the backline.
Ronald Araujo of Liverpool
Ronald Araujo of Liverpool(Image: Mike Hewitt/Getty Images)
It means Frimpong is facing a battle to get into the team at Liverpool, in a similar fashion to Alexander-Arnold's challenges at Real Madrid, while he has a similar issue in the Netherlands national team.
New Oranje boss Xavi Hernandez has chosen Dumfries in his opening match as head coach against Germany, displaying the early challenge that Frimpong also has to get into the side.
There is still time for both Frimpong and Alexander-Arnold to make things work at their respective clubs, but there is an uphill battle for both players to get into their manager's immediate plans.
With an intense fixture schedule ahead, there will be opportunities for Iraola to call upon the defender, but he will need to take the chances when they come.
“We will need Jeremie Frimpong when we need to be more offensive, and others we will need Ronald," the manager admitted earlier this season. "We will take that decision according to the game.”
Those games will come, but the Netherlands international will need to show he has a long-term chance to be a regular for Liverpool moving forward.