Liverpool legend Jamie Carragher delivered a blunt assessment of Jeremie Frimpong’s performance after the Reds’ defeat to Manchester City, describing the right-back as “all over the place.”
The Netherlands international has struggled to establish himself as a consistent presence in the side since arriving from Bayer Leverkusen. His difficulties were laid bare against City, particularly when Rayan Cherki skipped past him with ease in the build-up to the visitors’ third goal.
Speaking on Sky Sports (as reported by BBC Sport), Carragher said:
“We can talk about Man City, how much money they’ve spent on the players they’ve brought in, whether it’s been legally or not. But Rayan Cherki is one of those quality players.
He has been since he arrived at the club. The less said about Jeremie Frimpong the better — he’s all over the place.”
A difficult afternoon for Frimpong
Frimpong arrived with a strong reputation for attacking thrust and athleticism. However, the defensive side of his game has repeatedly been exposed in the Premier League. Against City he looked uncertain both in one-versus-one situations and in his positioning, something Carragher was quick to highlight.
The wider context at Anfield has not helped. Liverpool have undergone significant squad turnover, with the departures of Trent Alexander-Arnold, Mohamed Salah, Ibrahima Konaté and Luis Díaz leaving clear gaps that have not been fully filled. Expensive arrivals such as Florian Wirtz and Bradley Barcola have yet to deliver the consistent impact many expected, sharpening scrutiny on recruitment decisions.
City’s clinical edge
While Carragher acknowledged the ongoing debate around Manchester City’s spending, he was clear that Cherki’s quality on the day was decisive. The Frenchman was lively throughout and punished Liverpool’s defensive vulnerability.
Liverpool’s performance left them second-best, and the result will only intensify questions about the balance and defensive solidity of the current squad.
Carragher’s criticism of Frimpong was unusually direct, even by his standards. Whether the Dutchman can respond and prove he belongs at this level remains one of the more pressing questions facing the club.
