Jeremie Frimpong needs World Cup pain of being the odd man out as Liverpool challenge set

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A closer look at Jeremie Frimpong's current situation at Liverpool as the ECHO chats to former Reds right-back Glen JohnsonA penny for the thoughts of Jeremie Frimpong as he watched Liverpool colleagues Ryan Gravenberch and Virgil van Dijk combine to score for the Netherlands at the World Cup on Sunday evening.Ronald Koeman's Oranje met Japan on Sunday night in Dallas in what was arguably the standout tie of the World Cup's early going, playing out a 2-2 draw that also saw Cody Gakpo involved.Frimpong was the odd man out from Liverpool's quartet of Dutch players, left at home by Koeman after an indifferent first season that was blighted by muscle injuries at Anfield.It says a lot about the general misfortune Liverpool endured during a troubled term under Arne Slot that Frimpong arrived with a pristine injury record only to succumb to a setback on his debut that left him out for a month.That was followed up by a second muscle complaint in October, lasting just 19 minutes of a thumping victory over Eintracht Frankfurt in Germany. Defensively, sometimes because I think he's more attacking minded, he needs to make that next step."He needs to learn, and he needs to read the game a little bit better at times, but he's a great player, and I think you can expect a lot more from him next season."The general hope is that a more aggressive and frenetic style under Andoni Iraola can unlock someone whose main attributes are searing pace and nimble footwork in tight areas, from an offensive point of view.And if Liverpool are to play high up the pitch, defensively, then the Manchester-born Frimpong can help out as a right-sided full-back with his recovery pace.That is at least the working theory, but former Liverpool right-back Glen Johnson says the jury remains firmly out for now on the £29m capture from Bayer Leverkusen."Everyone was talking about Frimpong being better offensively than defensively, which is a common opinion, but I also don't see enough to say that he can be a right-winger either," Johnson tells the ECHO."He doesn't beat anybody.

He's technically good and quick, which helps you out, but I haven't seen him blitz past anybody. So, I don't know if he looked better in a weaker league or he's not hit his form and hasn't settled yet."So there are big question marks in my mind if he's right-back or right-wing."The disappointment at missing out on the grand stage will no doubt still be raw for Frimpong but it does mean he will be of the senior stars on Liverpool's pre-season tour of the United States next month.A full programme under the new boss gives him the best possible chance of starting a new era on the right foot.It will be interesting to see where Iraola best sees the versatile former Celtic man fitting into his tactical framework too.

There is talent there waiting to be unleashed if a system can be honed, in the way it was when Frimpong shone under Xabi Alonso en route to the Bundesliga title with Leverkusen in 2023."No player who signs for Liverpool is going to be happy missing out on a World Cup squad," Johnson, who made 200 appearances at right-back for the Reds, adds."If you are good enough to play for Liverpool, you should be good enough for your national team. But like I say, hopefully he can show some character, have a good pre-season, gets some minutes under his belt and show what he can do next season."Glen Johnson was speaking to Liverpool Echo, thanks to Bet St George, who conducted a survey ahead of the World Cup to find out if England really believe it's coming home.