(Credit: Hasan Karim, Breaking Media/Imago)
(Credit: Hasan Karim, Breaking Media/Imago)

'We go again' – Ryan Gravenberch reacts to Jeremie Frimpong after instant Liverpool impact

Jonathan Burnett

Jonny is a University of Leeds journalism graduate who became part of the FootballInsider team in Spring 2024, and recently worked as Head of Media for Widnes Vikings Rugby League club. Writing as a freelance reporter and commentator for The Sporting News and StatsPerform, he has covered matches in competitions including the FIFA Men's and Women's World Cups, as well as the Champions League, Women's Euro 2022, Six Nations and the Rugby Union World Cup.

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Liverpool's quartet of Dutch players all had differing impacts in their Community Shield defeat to Crystal Palace.

Arne Slot has strengthened Liverpool's contingent of his compatriots this summer with a £29.5million move for Jeremie Frimpong from Bayer Leverkusen, as he became their first signing of a busy window.

Liverpool started Frimpong alongside fellow new arrivals Milos Kerkez, Florian Wirtz and Hugo Ekitike at Wembley in their first match of the new season, and the latter scored just four minutes into his debut.

Hugo Ekitike Liverpool
Frimpong and Ekitike both scored on their Liverpool debuts (Credit: Manh Tung, Breaking Media)

An out-of-sorts Virgil van Dijk was arguably at fault for both of Crystal Palace's goals as Liverpool lost 3-2 on penalties after a 2-2 draw in normal time, while Cody Gakpo failed to make much of an impact.

Ryan Gravenberch missed the match altogether after his partner gave birth on the same day, but with Van Dijk and Gakpo both under-par, Frimpong rose to the occasion to immediately make his mark.

Frimpong ready to 'go again' after debut Liverpool goal

Gravenberch's place in Liverpool's midfield could be under threat after Curtis Jones' display alongside Dominik Szoboszlai in Slot's double-pivot at Wembley, but the Reds' right-back spot is already secure.

Frimpong had arrived at Anfield amid doubts over his ability to play as a conventional right-back, but still got forward at will against Palace and sent a looping effort over Dean Henderson's head in the first half.

That speculative strike immediately gets Frimpong up and running in a Reds shirt, and after Liverpool's defeat on penalties, the 24-year-old posted on Instagram (11 August) with a message to supporters.

Gravenberch commented with a love heart emoji beneath Frimpong's post, which said: "Disappointed with the result but we go again. Happy with my first goal in a Liverpool shirt".

Liverpool left with more questions than answers after Wembley loss

Football Insider Verdict

Although both Ekitike and Frimpong scored on their Liverpool debuts to stake their starting credentials to Slot for the new season, the Reds boss will have plenty of queries to tackle in the wake of their defeat.

The make-up of the midfield pairing behind Wirtz will be impacted by Gravenberch's absence and Jones' performance alongside Szoboszlai, who dropped back from last season's number 10 role at Wembley.

Alexander Isak remains the overwhelming talking point of the Reds' transfer business as the end of the window nears, but Ekitike may well have done enough to convince Slot that he won't be superseded as Liverpool's number nine.

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