When Liverpool signed Jeremie Frimpong last summer, the understanding was that he would spend plenty of time as a right winger for the Reds.
With Mohamed Salah set to miss a chunk of the season while away at AFCON, and Liverpool failing to replace Luis Diaz, Frimpong was nominally seen as part of the Arne Slot‘s attacking cohort.
Although the Dutchman has played his fair share at right-back, the promise of him making up one third of Liverpool‘s front line has also been fulfilled. Sadly, the expectation that he could hit the ground running as a goal-scoring threat from wide has not.
Who should start on the right of Liverpool’s attack against Chelsea?
Frimpong was AWFUL against United, and with Rio possibly needed on the left, should Chiesa get his chance?
Though injury has been a mitigating factor, Frimpong is still yet to score and has only one assist in 19 Premier League outings for the Reds.
Having been so spectacularly disappointing during last weekend’s defeat against Manchester United, failing to create a chance of have any kind of shot on goal, Slot must not start him again when Chelsea come to Anfield on Saturday. Worryingly for the Liverpool boss, though, he is all out of options to replace Frimpong.
Liverpool have little option but to play Frimpong again
Given the injury issues Liverpool have faced in defence and attack this season, Frimpong has barely been able to get any kind of rhythm going. His own fitness problems have to be factored into that, and perhaps it is harsh to judge him already.
Having said that, there have been times when the 25-year-old has looked hugely out of his depth at Liverpool.
His pace does cause problems for opposition full-backs, but having done the hard work to beat his man, Frimpong’s final pass has usually been inexplicably wayward.
That was the case against United, when he got no change at all out of Luke Shaw. He may have completed 16 out of 17 passes, and provided one accurate cross, but Frimpong completed none of his two attempted dribbles, was dispossessed once and lost eight of the 10 duels he went in for.
More than the statistics, the eye test showed that this is not a player who Liverpool can be relying upon while Salah works his way back to fitness.
Liverpool could be stretched further across the front line depending on whether Alexander Isak is ready to start, and while Cody Gakpo should then play centrally, Slot must be scratching his head over who to play on either wing.
Give us your prediction for Saturday’s lunchtime clash with Chelsea…
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Federico Chiesa could provide an unlikely answer
Despite his poor form, it does feel likely that Frimpong goes again, thus weakening an already makeshift forward line.
Nevertheless, while his options may be limited, Slot could still try something in order to drop his countryman out.
Rio Ngumoha may be needed on the left of the attack with Gakpo playing through the middle, leaving Federico Chiesa as the potential answer on the right.
The Italian has only started one Premier League game all season – and just two since joining Liverpool in 2024 – but with Frimpong struggling and no other options to speak of, he could finally get the nod against Chelsea.
While he has struggled himself of late, watching Chiesa give it his all for what may be the final time in a Liverpool shirt would still be preferable to seeing Frimpong run down blind alleys for another 90 minutes.
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