Liverpool may have secured a third consecutive Premier League win on Saturday, but they did not look especially comfortable against bottom side Wolves at Anfield.
Continuing what has become a disturbing pattern, the Reds got themselves two goals up before capitulating in the second-half.
This time it did not cost Liverpool the three points, but it is clear that improvements are still badly needed to correct the course of the season.
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One of the biggest struggles for the Reds has been effectively breaking down teams who sit in a low-block while playing against them.
Ironically, this was not their issue on Saturday. Liverpool did take their time to penetrate the Wolves back line, but once they did, they quickly did it again. According to Arne Slot, this was in large part down to Jeremie Frimpong, who he has suggested may now become the Reds’ low-block killer.
Liverpool looking to kill low-blocks with pace
Frimpong has had a frustrating first few months as a Liverpool player, with injury disrupting his integration into the team.
On Saturday, supporters finally got a proper look at what he can offer at right-back, and the Dutchman duly delivered, helping break the deadlock with a brilliant assist for Ryan Gravenberch.
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Speaking in his post-match press conference, Slot claimed that the pace of Frimpong is something Liverpool will continue to look to in order to break down teams who sit deep against them.
“We were not always able to use the players we brought in. Jeremie is a great example, if he’s fit he can definitely help us,” said the Liverpool head coach. “Last week he had the assist against Tottenham and today he had a great assist against Wolves.
“Pace, that’s what he has and that’s so important and crucial in modern-day football because to create something against a low-block, teams that defend with so many players, usually teams break that down with set-pieces, that’s not our biggest strength. To have him available with his pace, because the goal we scored, the first one, it was pure individual ability. Quick, bam bam.”
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“That’s the pace I always wanted to bring in in the summer. That’s what we did with Hugo [Ekitike], Jeremie and with Alex [Isak] as well but unfortunately not all of the money we have spent we have used because of injuries.”
Liverpool fans set to see the best of Frimpong
It was always going to take Frimpong some time to settle in at Liverpool. The 25-year-old does not have a set position, and working out where he fits into this new-look team is still a work in progress.
There has been plenty of chatter amongst Liverpool supporters that Frimpong was not the right signing to succeed Trent Alexander-Arnold at full-back for the Reds.
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However, he showed on Saturday exactly what he can bring to the table. He is not just about pace, but when a team is intent on simply sitting in, having someone with that searing speed running at you is the last thing you want.
His assist for Gravenberch was exactly the kind of individual moment of quality Liverpool were searching for, and there is no reason Frimpong cannot replicate that in similar matches going forward.
With Conor Bradley also returning during the second-half, Slot finally has his two right-back options fit and available. Leeds will be expected to set up in a similar way at Anfield on Thursday. It will be fascinating to see who gets the nod.
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