Jeremie Frimpong was asked about the lack of silverware that equates to failure at Liverpool this season, as well as basketball star Giannis Antetokounmpo being talked about on the right side..
Giannis, a 6 foot 11 power forward for the NBA’s Milwaukee Bucks, was asked about his team’s notorious lack of trophies in 2023, and his answer was poetic and complete.
“Michael Jordan played for 15 years,” he said. “It won six championships. The other nine years it didn’t win? That’s what you’re telling me? I’m asking you a question, yes or no?”
However, success has many fathers, and failure is an orphan. Liverpool’s title-winning 2024/25 season was hailed as a triumph for the club, and it was, but there may have been a lack of responsibility for the club’s failures this season, and that must change.
Some of these Reds stars could take a leaf from Giannis’ playbook. Frimpong, at least, has done that, but improvements are still needed across the park, and FSG are eyeing a star who can guide Liverpool back to winning ways.
Liverpool are planning a record-breaking summer transfer
Liverpool have struggled this season. They will leave with no silverware, and only qualifying for the Champions League can end Slot’s irreparable damage.
However, Giannis’ words are true, and it’s understandable that the fluency was affected when so many changes were made last summer, with Trent Alexander-Arnold leaving at the end of his contract.
|
Liverpool’s Premier League Chance Creation |
||
|---|---|---|
|
The season |
90 goals |
90 possibilities |
|
25/26 |
1.6 |
2.7 |
|
24/25 |
2.3 |
3.9 |
|
23/24 |
2.3 |
3.4 |
|
22/23 |
2.0 |
3.3 |
|
21/22 |
2.5 |
3.5 |
Frimpong joined Bayer Leverkusen last summer for around £30m, along with Florian Wirtz. The pair, together, should have covered England’s right-back position, but it did.
However, Liverpool could sign their new Alexander-Arnold type in Adam Wharton, and TEAMtalk have revealed that the Crystal Palace midfielder is at the center of a summer bid from the Anfield side.
The Eagles will be looking at at least £70m to sign Wharton this season – which would mark a club record sale – but he is a midfielder, almost English in the way he plays the game.
Competition will be fierce, and signing him will be even more difficult if Palace win the Conference League and enter Europe’s second-tier competition next year. However, Liverpool must protect the new Alexander-Arnold.
Why Adam Wharton could be Liverpool’s new Trent
Palace have grown as a Premier League club under Oliver Glasner. Their branches have reached high and touched the air of Europe this season.
Known as “the talent of a generation” by journalist Matthew Stanger, Wharton was essential. His ability to play football is unique and made for high level football. It feels inevitable that he will stand out in a team that will compete at Europe’s highest level, hailed as football’s “cheat code” by commentator Ben Mattinson.
Wharton has been creating things, but he has developed into a more competitive and complete player over the past year, building on the foundation that helped secure the FA Cup title last season.
|
Adam Wharton’s Premier League Development |
||
|---|---|---|
|
Math (* in 90) |
24/25 |
25/26 |
|
The same (begins) |
20 (16) |
28 (26) |
|
Terms + Help |
0 + 2 |
0 + 5 |
|
Contact* |
45.7 |
51.6 |
|
Accurate passes* |
26.7 (79%) |
29.6 (79%) |
|
Item lost* |
10.8 |
12.3 |
|
Great opportunities have been created |
5 |
11 |
|
Key passes* |
1.3 |
1.1 |
|
Success. dribble* |
0.1 |
0.4 |
|
Football recovery* |
5.1 |
4.8 |
|
Facing + meeting* |
2.7 |
2.9 |
|
Delete* |
1.4 |
1.4 |
|
Duels won* |
3.2 (46%) |
4.3 (49%) |
He is very effective in his creative production now, and although Liverpool will not exactly replace Alexander-Arnold’s quality on the right side with the arrival of Wharton, it can help to reorganize the team’s attack and wide structure, perhaps benefiting from the future success of underperforming players like Frimpong and Wirtz.
Indeed, creating big chances at an average of 0.45 per game, the Three Lions star ranks in the top 6% of midfielders. In addition, he is athletic and happy to work hard, covering space, chasing loose balls.
Liverpool could do with some meat in the middle of the park, and for that, Wharton is not the answer. However, they would be foolish not to check out the new Trent move, especially if Alexis Mac Allister ends up leaving.
Frimpong is right to refer to Giannis when asked to assess Liverpool’s difficult campaign. Down the line, this may be considered an important part of team development.
However, changes are still needed, and Wharton could be the perfect way to reconnect the creative blocks and get Liverpool’s building system flowing again.
Wanted to join Liverpool: FSG in talks for next Wirtz in £70m deal
Liverpool are looking to rebuild their front line in next summer’s transfer window.
