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Two of Liverpool's summer transfer dealings will have left star player Mohamed Salah feeling "gutted", it's been suggested.
The Reds made several high-profile signings during the transfer window, including a British record-breaking £125million ($169m) deal for Newcastle forward Alexander Isak on deadline day. Additionally, German midfielder Florian Wirtz was signed from Bayer Leverkusen in a deal potentially worth up to £116m ($156m).
However, not all transfers were successful, as a £35m ($47m) bid for Crystal Palace captain Marc Guehi fell through at the last minute. Despite this, Liverpool's hefty £450m ($605m) expenditure has been warmly welcomed by supporters, as Arne Slot aims to defend the Premier League title.
But ex-Reds forward Dean Saunders believes that the club's Egyptian talisman will be disappointed about Trent Alexander-Arnold's controversial move to Real Madrid and the decision to replace him with Jeremie Frimpong. According to Saunders, this is due to the strong understanding between Salah and the club's former right-back.
He claims Frimpong, who was signed from Bayer Leverkusen for £29.5m ($40m) at the end of May, may lack the passing precision of his predecessor, despite his athletic prowess.
Speaking on Liverpool legend John Aldridge's "Aldo Meets" podcast, he said: "They lost Trent, which is a blow. If I was Salah, I'd be gutted because Trent's disguised passing is the best in the world. He doesn't even look sometimes and Salah just knows [where the ball is going].
"Every left-back Salah plays against, they know what he does. They know what he's good at, but they can't stop him. Somehow, he gets in behind him, because normally, Trent will just flip one over the top without looking.
"I know Frimpong is a good signing. He'll never be as good on the ball as Trent, but he's a good athlete. How do you sign someone better than Trent? It's hard, isn't it?"
Frimpong is currently sidelined after being substituted during Liverpool's 4-2 Premier League season opener against Bournemouth due to a hamstring problem. This meant the 24-year-old was unable to join up with the Netherlands squad, though he is anticipated to return for the Reds following the international break.
Dominik Szoboszlai has been covering the right-back role in his absence, with Jamie Carragher suggesting the Hungarian may have discovered his strongest position after failing to make his mark as an attacking midfielder. Szoboszlai found the net for the Reds during their victory over Arsenal last weekend, unleashing a thunderous free-kick from over 30 yards.
Writing on social media following the match, Carragher said: "Nine points from nine is a great return for LFC after playing two of their toughest games, that were both drawn last season. The back four was outstanding, VVD. Dom has found his position! Full back suits him better than the attacking midfield role."
In the meantime, ex-Liverpool defender Glen Johnson has cautioned Frimpong about the increased competition he'll face from Conor Bradley for a spot in Slot's starting line-up this season.
"I've seen Frimpong play a few times. Obviously, he likes to get forward, he'll be a good player that can help push and develop with Conor Bradley," he told the Liverpool Echo. "Who will start the season, we don't know, but it's just good to always have two good players that are probably both capable of being in the XI."
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