As Trent Alexander-Arnold’s transfer to Actual Madrid transitioned from an “if” to a “when,” his eventual departure posed a novel set of issues for Liverpool to resolve. The England worldwide might have his faults, however at his boyhood membership, he had advanced into one of many sport’s best wingbacks – and a novel one at that. Discovering a successor to fill Alexander-Arnold’s position was a extra sound technique than discovering a direct alternative, however the Reds hit the candy spot by signing Jeremie Frimpong from Bayer Leverkusen, touchdown a participant who was as near a like-for-like swap as they might probably discover. Something greater than a superficial look, although, reveals that Alexander-Arnold and Frimpong have overlapping however completely different tactical profiles.
The pair are well-suited to play proper wingback for attack-minded groups and have carried out so excellently earlier than their summer time transfers, and each gamers are topic to criticism that defending falls decrease on the record of their priorities than it ought to. Alexander-Arnold and Frimpong fall in these classes, although, due to their different skillsets and the completely different tactical attributes they create to their groups. Liverpool are unlikely to look precisely the identical on the appropriate flank this season as they did throughout their title-winning marketing campaign, and never solely as a result of the membership splashed greater than $300 million on attackers that can fully change their goalscoring technique. The Reds will not be truly making an attempt to exchange Alexander-Arnold with one particular person, however updating their strategy to account for his absence.
As their wobbly defensive form throughout preseason has demonstrated, Liverpool might not have all of the solutions to the large questions on squad stability and defending their Premier League title, however supervisor Arne Slot is constructing a new-look group for the brand new season, even when they’re sticking true to the attack-minded strategy that has outlined the group for the final decade. Frimpong might be an important a part of these plans, no matter how a lot he does – or doesn’t – resemble Alexander-Arnold in a tactical sense.
A story of two proper wingbacks
There may be one key distinction between Alexander-Arnold and Frimpong, not less than on this stage of their careers – the previous is extra of a inventive participant, whereas the latter is actually an out-and-out winger. Frimpong had restricted defensive tasks for Xabi Alonso’s Bayer Leverkusen, the supervisor as a substitute letting the participant’s directness function his defining attribute. He averaged 4.11 progressive carriers per sport final season and ranks within the 97th percentile for fullbacks in Europe’s prime 5 leagues and genuinely has a nostril for objective – he had 30 targets and 44 assists in 190 matches for Leverkusen and final season averaged 0.18 non-penalty anticipated targets, touchdown within the 98th percentile. A fast take a look at how Liverpool performed within the Neighborhood Defend reveals Slot values these elements in Frimpong, too, keen to hitch the assault and overwhelm Palace’s protection with sheer numbers.
Frimpong’s output might remind you of Alexander-Arnold’s, however his objective and help numbers are higher. The Liverpool newcomer is contained in the ninetieth percentile or increased for targets, assists and non-penalty anticipated targets whereas the Actual Madrid participant is within the seventieth and eightieth percentiles in these classes. That can be as a result of Alexander-Arnold’s experience is elsewhere – he’s extra creatively inclined than Frimpong and is way, rather more comfy making a go. The England worldwide is within the 97th percentile for passes tried with a median of 71.8 per sport within the final yr and the 99th percentile for progressive passes with 8.52 per sport. Frimpong is within the fourth percentile in each classes, as clear a sign as any that their types are pretty completely different.
The approaches are equally environment friendly so long as the gamers are utilized appropriately, which was the case final season and appears prone to proceed at their respective new golf equipment. Frimpong averaged 0.35 non-penalty anticipated targets and assists final season and fell within the 97th percentile, whereas Alexander-Arnold was not far behind within the 94th percentile with a median of 0.31.
Two defenders who do not defend?
For all of his abilities, Alexander-Arnold was steadily slowed down by feedback that he was unreliable in protection. It’s laborious to argue in opposition to the declare that defensive ability shouldn’t be his trademark however he’s not in contrast to different attack-minded proper wingbacks in that regard. Gamers like Alexander-Arnold – and Frimpong, for that matter – are designed to be bolstered by heart backs and defensive midfielders to revive the stability within the group. Even then, Alexander-Arnold boasts a number of the traditional attributes one would possibly search for in a defender, specifically the truth that he sits within the eighty fifth percentile for tackles per match (2.63) and within the 77th percentile for interceptions (1.19).
His defensive fashion varies tremendously from Frimpong’s, who was basically allowed to choose out of defending by Alonso at Leverkusen. That strategy impressed criticism from Netherlands head coach Ronald Koeman, who cited Frimpong’s nonexistent defensive performances as a purpose to exclude from a roster in 2023. “He performs nearly with no consideration winger,” Koeman stated on the time. “My right-back ought to be capable to defend properly within the first place and I’ve my doubts about that.”
Frimpong’s defensive contributions – or lack thereof – throughout his Leverkusen days recontextualize Alexander-Arnold’s work at Liverpool. Final season, 48% of Alexander-Arnold’s touches have been within the defensive half in comparison with Frimpong’s 22%, whereas Frimpong lands within the fifth percentile for tackles per sport (1.13) and third percentile for interceptions (0.38). The Netherlands worldwide exists within the extremes in comparison with Alexander-Arnold, providing extra targets however maybe buying and selling that for defensive inexperience. How Liverpool remedy that downside might make or break their season – their loss within the Neighborhood Defend showcases an imbalance, the size tilting means an excessive amount of within the assault’s favor.
