Liverpool still work in progress but Slot insists full-backs will come good

Slot expects improvement as squad and signings settle

Liverpool's Florian Wirtz, left, celebrates with Milos Kerkez after scoring his side's second goal during the Premier League win over Wolverhampton Wanderers. Pic: AP Photo/Ian Hodgson)

Arne Slot has said Liverpool remain “a work in progress” in both full-back positions but backed Jeremie Frimpong and Milos Kerkez to make their mark as his team stabilise.

Slot admits Liverpool are still adjusting to the end of the Trent Alexander-Arnold and Andy Robertson era with injuries and disruption limiting the impact of their designated successors, including Conor Bradley. Frimpong has improved since returning from his second hamstring injury of the season, however, and provided assists for Hugo Ekitiké and Ryan Gravenberch in the recent victories over Tottenham and Wolves. Slot believes the summer signings Frimpong and Kerkez, from Bayer Leverkusen and Bournemouth respectively, will prove valuable assets for Liverpool, with their pace essential for the modern game.

The Liverpool head coach said: “We had to make one change in that position because Trent left. That was not ideal for me as Trent was so important to this club and was very important for me last season.

“When we looked in the market, Jeremie was one of the first we noticed. He has that pace similar to Conor, Milos and Robbo. That pace is one thing going forward but also if you face the forwards of Paris Saint-Germain or many Premier League teams with very, very fast wingers. It is definitely helpful to have them. Unfortunately for them they have not always had the same players in front of them. So it is still a work in progress. Especially because too many times not all of them have been available and we have had to change because of load management. But, bit by bit, we see players and the team improving.” 

That assessment also applies to Florian Wirtz, who scored his first Liverpool goal since his arrival for a potential £116m from Bayer Leverkusen in the win over Wolves and has impressed in recent weeks. Slot said the Germany international has needed time to adapt to the move on and off the pitch.

The Dutch coach said: “I can only answer from my experience being an old man, or at least much older than him. Being in a new country, because it was also my first time going abroad, it is different. Your life is a bit upside down. For a manager that is not the biggest problem because I do not have to perform on the pitch but I can understand people needing time to adapt off the pitch. The biggest adaptation coming to this league is the intensity. Even when we played once a week you can see Hugo had a cramp after 70 minutes. I did not take Florian out [against Wolves] because he was bad but because he just couldn’t run any more.” 

Liverpool are unbeaten in seven games going into Leeds’ visit to Anfield on New Year’s Day and, before the midweek games, had risen to fourth in the Premier League after stemming a damaging run of defeats. Slot said it was not only new signings who would improve in the second half of the season, when the entire squad should benefit from a better understanding.

“History has shown many times that the longer players play together the bigger chance you have of winning something,” he added. “You saw this last season because that team was here the year before with Jürgen [Klopp]. In the first half of last season we played very good football.

“If you add players to what you have there is a serious chance of improving. If you replace, like we have done, then it takes time. And usually it gets better after a certain period of time. Unfortunately Giovanni Leoni we won’t see him this season and Alex [Alexander Isak] will take a long time before we see him again.”

Guardian