Jeremie Frimpong looks to contribute more for Liverpool after injury problems

Jeremie Frimpong is looking to make more of a contribution after injuries made for a “rocky start” to his Liverpool career.

The £40million summer signing sustained a hamstring problem in the first game of the season and it was an issue which returned to plague him a couple more times.

As a result he has featured in just 12 of the team’s 28 matches and his selection for Thursday’s goalless draw at home to Leeds was the first time he had started back-to-back league matches – albeit in different positions.

Having slotted in at right-back for the win over Wolves he was pushed into an attacking role in midweek, staying wide and using his considerable pace to drive to the byline and cause problems.

In the continued absence of Mohamed Salah at the Africa Cup of Nations it is a role he could be asked to reprise at Fulham as head coach Arne Slot has spoken a lot about how important his speed can be in unlocking defences, although to no avail against Leeds.

Frimpong is just looking to make up for lost time by making a contribution.

“It was really tough because I’m not really the type of guy that gets injured so it was really difficult for me to deal with,” he said of his injury problems.

“I could say it’s been a rocky start for me but now I’m healthy, I feel good and I’m just happy to be back on the pitch. I’m just happy to play football, to just contribute and help my team.”

What added to Frimpong’s frustrations was having to watch his fellow new signings start to make progress, particularly his former Bayer Leverkusen team-mate and close friend Florian Wirtz.

The Germany international also endured a difficult adaptation period to English football but is starting to show the talents which persuaded Liverpool to spend up to £116m to secure one of Europe’s hottest prospects.

“Obviously it was a bit of a frustrating one for me but I was happy for the others – Flo, Hugo (Ekitike), Milos (Kerkez), Giorgi (Mamardashvili) (because) it was their first starts for Liverpool and they continued,” he added.

Specifically on Wirtz he said: “When I heard he was coming, it put a smile on my face because we basically started our Leverkusen career together and we’re starting our Liverpool career together as well.

“I know how good of a player Flo is. If it wasn’t for him, I wouldn’t have won a treble with Leverkusen. We know how good he is.

“To see him doing it now, this is just the start. There’s plenty more to come from him.

“Flo is the type of player that doesn’t care about things (like) the price tag. He’s just happy to play football. I think Flo takes pressure really well. He’s just a guy that loves the ball at his feet, I don’t think he cares about all this.

“What was it, £116 million? So (from) the outside it’s like ‘Whoa’, but he doesn’t care about all that. He knows how good he is. He just wants to play.”