Analysis: Arne Slot has Already Started to Plan for Life at Liverpool with Frimpong and Kerkez | OneFootball

Jeremie Frimpong: The First Spark of Arne Slot’s Tactical Revolution

Jeremie Frimpong became Liverpool’s first summer signing in a move that already has supporters excited. The Dutchman’s signing for £29 million is a sign that Arne Slot is ready to stamp his identity onto this Liverpool side, and Frimpong, with his relentless energy and attacking instincts, could actually be a brilliant start to business.

Slot’s Tactical Evolution has Already Started

Slot had already started to prepare for his defence of the Premier League title at the end of the season. Against Brighton, we sawConor Bradley making an underlapping run beyond Mohamed Salah, allowing Harvey Elliott to slot home. This was no accident. It was a clear change and potentially preview of how Slot sees his full-backs operating.

Photo: IMAGO

Frimpong, unlike Trent Alexander-Arnold, thrives high up the pitch. At Bayer Leverkusen, only 22 percent of his touches came in his own half. That’s baffling for someone nominally listed as a right-back. But he hasn’t been signed as a replacement for Alexander-Arnold, but instead to bring a whole new dimension to Slot’s system.

Why Frimpong Fits Like a Glove

Some rival fans might scoff at the idea of replacing Trent with a “weaker” defender. But Frimpong doesn’t need to be a conventional full-back. He brings what Liverpool have lacked since the peak days of Robertson and Alexander-Arnold — a full-back with the legs and intent to stretch the game and cause chaos in the final third.

Photo: IMAGO

Frimpong’s heat map looks like a winger’s. He’s got deep red zones inside the opposition box. He runs like a winger, presses like a midfielder and recovers like a full-back. It’s that recovery pace, so reminiscent of Liverpool’s full-backs during Klopp’s prime years, that could make him one of the most valuable additions to the squad.

Gravenberch’s Role Is Crucial

One of the keys to unlocking Frimpong’s full potential will be how Liverpool handle their build-up. Slot has already started forming makeshift back threes in possession, with Ryan Gravenberch stepping between the centre-backs. This frees the full-backs to push forward, often finding themselves further upfield than the wingers. It’s a system we’ve seen work wonders under Klopp, when Fabinho was at his peak.

Photo: IMAGO

Now, with Gravenberch operating as the deepest midfielder, Liverpool have the chance to evolve that system. His comfort in deeper zones, along with his tactical understanding, provides the build-up that allows Frimpong to push forward without leaving the defence exposed. Expect to see more of these shape-shifting back threes next season, and don’t be surprised if Liverpool’s attacking full-backs are again dominating the assist charts.

Kerkez and Wirtz Add Even More Firepower

With Liverpool now in advanced talks to bring in Milos Kerkez from Bournemouth and Florian Wirtz from Bayer Leverkusen, it’s clear that Slot is building a system based on mobility and flexibility. Kerkez mirrors many of the qualities that we once saw from Andy Robertson on the left flank — tenacity, overlapping power, and the willingness to be that extra man in attack.

Photo: IMAGO

Wirtz, if signed, will be transformative. With Mohamed Salah cutting inside and operating in those deadly inside pockets, Wirtz would slot in naturally as another creative hub. This dual-number-ten system would allow Liverpool to overload central areas, creating space on the wings for Frimpong and Kerkez to exploit, but also being able to maintain the heavy press of Dominik Szoboszlai.

Slot’s Tactical Flexibility Makes This Work

What’s most exciting is that Slot isn’t one-dimensional. He’s not coming in to copy Klopp’s blueprint. He’s tactically fluid, able to tweak his approach depending on the players available and the demands of the opposition.

Whether it’s a traditional 4-2-3-1 or a more fluid 3-2-5 in possession, Slot’s early tweaks show he’s ready to maximise every inch of potential from his squad.