Liverpool manager Arne Slot has confirmed new £29.5 million signing Jeremie Frimpong is being considered as a temporary replacement for Mohamed Salah, who is set to miss a chunk of the 2025-26 season due to the Africa Cup of Nations. The Dutchman has admitted the Egyptian’s absence influenced transfer plans as the right-back could shift from defence to attack.

Liverpool manager Arne Slot has made a revelation that is already sending ripples through the football world and stirring up massive debate among fans and pundits. In his calm but confident manner, the Dutch tactician has confirmed that new £29.5 million signing Jeremie Frimpong is not just arriving at Anfield to do the traditional job of a right-back. Instead, he is already being considered as a temporary replacement for Liverpool’s talisman Mohamed Salah, who will be away for a significant part of the 2025-26 season due to the Africa Cup of Nations. It’s a decision that speaks volumes about Slot’s tactical imagination and his willingness to think outside the box, even if it means asking a player to step into the shoes of one of the greatest attackers in the club’s history. Salah’s absence was always going to be a huge talking point. The Egyptian king has been Liverpool’s heartbeat in attack since 2017, scoring goals with ruthless

consistency, creating moments of magic, and striking fear into defenders across the world. Every time he has stepped on the pitch, there has been an air of inevitability about his ability to change a game in an instant. But with the AFCON scheduled in the middle of the season, Slot and his coaching staff have been forced to face the harsh reality: Liverpool will be without their No. 11 for a chunk of fixtures, potentially including crucial Premier League matches and important knockout rounds in cup competitions. For any team, losing a player of Salah’s calibre is a massive blow. For Liverpool, it is seismic.

Slot didn’t hide the fact that Salah’s absence shaped Liverpool’s transfer plans this summer. Speaking in his press conference, he admitted that while Frimpong was always a player the club admired for his speed, attacking instincts, and versatility, the idea of using him in a more advanced role became more appealing once they knew Salah’s unavailability was unavoidable. The £29.5 million deal to bring Frimpong from Bayer Leverkusen was initially seen as a statement signing to strengthen the defence, but now it could prove to be a masterstroke in ensuring Liverpool’s attack doesn’t lose its cutting edge when Salah is away. Frimpong is no ordinary right-back. Those who have watched him closely in the Bundesliga will know that his game is built around relentless energy, blistering pace, and an almost winger-like instinct to get forward. At Leverkusen, under Xabi Alonso, he became one of the most dangerous attacking full-backs in Europe, often operating so high up the pitch that he looked more like a right winger than a defender. His overlapping runs, quick dribbles, and knack for arriving in the box at the right moment made him a constant threat. Slot’s idea is to take those natural attacking tendencies and push them even further — essentially unleashing Frimpong in an advanced role where his defensive duties are secondary, and his main job is to terrorise opposition defences.

This is not a completely alien concept in football. Some of the game’s greatest tactical innovators have taken defenders and turned them into attackers when the need arose. Players with pace, stamina, and technical quality often make the transition smoothly, especially if they have experience in multiple positions. Frimpong himself has, at various points in his career, played further forward, and his comfort in one-on-one situations could make him a nightmare for Premier League full-backs who are used to dealing with traditional wingers. Still,

stepping in for Salah is an entirely different challenge. The Egyptian is not just fast and skillful; he is a proven match-winner with an extraordinary eye for goal. His ability to cut inside from the right and unleash left-footed finishes into the far corner has become one of the most iconic sights in modern football. Replacing that level of end product is nearly impossible, which is why Slot’s plan is less about expecting Frimpong to mimic Salah’s game and more about using his own unique strengths to give Liverpool a different kind of threat.

Slot’s approach also reflects a broader truth about modern football — adaptability is everything. Injuries, suspensions, and international commitments mean managers can’t always rely on their strongest XI. Instead, the best teams are those who can adjust their tactics and shuffle their players without losing momentum. For Liverpool, Frimpong’s versatility could be a lifeline. His ability to play as a traditional right-back, a wing-back, or a winger gives Slot multiple options, both in terms of formations and in-game adjustments. For example, Liverpool could start matches with Frimpong in defence, then push him forward later in the game to overload the attack. Or, in Salah’s absence, they could line up with Frimpong starting in the front three from the first whistle, using his pace to stretch defences and create space for the likes of Darwin Núñez, Luis Díaz, and Cody Gakpo.

The tactical implications of this move are fascinating. If Frimpong is deployed on the right wing, it could also change the roles of other Liverpool attackers. Núñez, for instance, could benefit from more space in central areas as defenders are dragged wide to deal with Frimpong’s surging runs. Díaz, operating on the opposite flank, might find himself with more one-on-one opportunities. Even Trent Alexander-Arnold’s role could be influenced, as his trademark diagonals into the right channel might become a key weapon in releasing Frimpong behind opposition lines. Slot’s Liverpool could end up looking quite different during the AFCON period, not necessarily weaker, but certainly with a different attacking rhythm.

Of course, this experiment is not without its risks. The Premier League is a brutal testing ground for any player trying a new role, and Frimpong will have to adapt quickly. Defenders at this level will study his game meticulously, looking to cut off his runs and exploit any weaknesses in his attacking instincts. There is also the question of chemistry — Salah’s understanding with his teammates has been built over years, whereas Frimpong will have only a few months to form those same connections. For a team chasing titles, that margin for error is slim. Still, Slot seems confident that Frimpong has both the mentality and the skillset to rise to the occasion.

Liverpool fans, naturally, are split on the idea. Some see it as a clever, proactive move that could bring a fresh dimension to the team’s attack. They point to Frimpong’s numbers at Leverkusen — double figures in goal contributions from a defensive position — as proof that he can be a weapon higher up the pitch. Others are more cautious, arguing that Liverpool should have signed a like-for-like forward to cover Salah directly, rather than repurposing a defender. It is a debate that will only be settled on the pitch.

Frimpong himself has not spoken publicly about the possibility of playing in Salah’s position, but those who know him describe a player who thrives on challenges and is eager to prove himself at the highest level. At 24 years old, he is entering what should be the prime years of his career, and a move to Liverpool offers the perfect stage to showcase his talents. The Premier League will test him in ways the Bundesliga did not, but his fearless style and relentless work rate could quickly win over the Anfield faithful.

There is also the psychological aspect to consider. For years, Liverpool’s right flank has been synonymous with Salah’s brilliance. Opponents have come to expect danger every time he gets the ball. With Frimpong stepping in, there will inevitably be comparisons, but there will also be an element of surprise. Teams will have to adjust to a new kind of threat, and in those early weeks, that unpredictability could work in Liverpool’s favour.

In the grand scheme of Liverpool’s season, how Slot manages this AFCON period could be pivotal. If the team can navigate Salah’s absence without dropping crucial points, they will not only stay in the title race but also send a message to rivals about their depth and resilience. If Frimpong can contribute directly to that — whether through goals, assists, or simply by stretching defences and creating space — his signing will look like one of the smartest pieces of business of the summer.

For now, Liverpool fans can only wait and watch as Slot puts his plan into action. The AFCON is still months away, but the seeds of adaptation are already being sown. In Frimpong, Liverpool have a player with the tools to succeed in multiple roles, and in Slot, they have a manager willing to take bold decisions in the pursuit of success. It is a gamble, yes, but in football, some of the greatest stories are born from moments when managers dared to do something different. If this gamble pays off, the image of Frimpong racing down the right wing in a red shirt, standing in for Salah and keeping Liverpool’s attack alive, could become one of the defining sights of the 2025-26 campaign.