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Beth Lindop
Jeremie Frimpong has expressed his support for Liverpool teammate Florian Wirtz, believing that the midfielder will soon return to his top form at Anfield and can manage the expectations tied to his £116 million transfer fee.
Wirtz, who joined Liverpool from Bayer Leverkusen during the summer transfer window, has been under significant scrutiny as one of Europe’s most promising young talents. The 22-year-old finally scored his first goal for Liverpool in the 2-1 win against Wolverhampton Wanderers last month. However, he attracted negative feedback yet again after failing to make a significant impact during the Reds’ disappointing 0-0 draw with Leeds United.
Frimpong, also a summer signing from Leverkusen and who played alongside Wirtz there, remains confident that this is just the beginning for Wirtz. “That’s my boy,” Frimpong remarked regarding Wirtz. “When I learned he was joining [Liverpool], I was really happy because we started our journeys together at Leverkusen and are now embarking on this new chapter at Liverpool.”
“I know Flo’s potential,” he continued. “I’ve mentioned in several interviews that if it weren’t for him, we wouldn’t have achieved the double at Leverkusen. We’re well aware of his capabilities, and this is just the start for him—there’s much more to come.”
“Flo isn’t bothered by the pressure of his price tag. He enjoys playing football. To be honest, I believe he handles pressure well. He thrives with the ball at his feet and loves the game, so he isn’t focused on other people’s perceptions. The £116m price tag is significant from an outside perspective, but he recognizes his own talent and is just excited to play.”
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Frimpong’s personal journey at Liverpool has also seen ups and downs. The defender, who has recently filled a wing role for manager Arne Slot, faced a hamstring injury on the season’s opening day and further complications while playing against Eintracht Frankfurt in October.
Now fully fit, the Netherlands international is eager to utilize his remarkable speed as a strategic advantage for Liverpool as they aim to ascend the Premier League standings.
“I’ve been out for a while,” he shared. “I just want to contribute to my team. Of course, I missed playing, so I’m thrilled to be back. Winning is equally important to me.”
“It has been tough because I generally don’t get injured, so this was challenging to cope with. Having my family around me definitely helped.”
“Now that I’m back, I just want to be on the pitch, help my teammates, and play to my strengths, whether I’m positioned at right-back or on the wing. My focus remains on using my abilities and speed.”
Regarding his acclimation to life at Anfield, Frimpong added, “The team has been fantastic. They welcomed me warmly, making it easy to connect with everyone. Especially with Hugo [Ekitike], we really feed off each other’s energy, which is great!”