Liverpool duo name toughest opponent Slot tried to sign in January

Liverpool’s New Duo Hail Alphonso Davies, Who Nearly Became a Teammate

In football, some names linger on the pitch long after the final whistle. Others haunt defenders and torment creative players from memory alone. For two of Liverpool’s brightest summer additions, that name is Alphonso Davies.

Photo IMAGO

As TBR Football report, Jeremie Frimpong and Florian Wirtz, both recent arrivals from Bayer Leverkusen, were quick to name the Bayern Munich full-back as the most difficult opponent they have faced. In a light-hearted episode of the club’s Bezzies series, the pair answered the question in unison.

“I think we have the same. Davies, he’s fast, man. Fast and strong,” Frimpong admitted, with Wirtz nodding along, having already given the Canadian as his answer.

Photo: IMAGO

Summer arrivals show respect for elite opposition

It’s a moment of honesty that adds further depth to Liverpool’s recruitment strategy. Wirtz and Frimpong did not just arrive with accolades from Germany, but with a clear understanding of elite opposition. In praising Davies, they underline the standard Liverpool are trying to meet and surpass, under Arne Slot.

Their shared recognition of Davies’ impact also points to the kind of mentality Slot has brought into the dressing room: respect for excellence, matched with a desire to compete against it.

Slot previously interested in Davies

Interestingly, Davies was more than just a name discussed in passing. Liverpool explored a move for the Canadian in January when his contract situation at Bayern Munich was unresolved. Slot considered him “one of three potential options” at left-back, but Davies later renewed terms with the Bundesliga giants in February.

Photo: IMAGO

It closes a window that could have added even more pace and power to a rapidly evolving Liverpool side. But it also shows where Slot’s vision was focused, targeting players with game-changing profiles.

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This story adds another layer of excitement to what already feels like a transformative summer. Hearing Frimpong and Wirtz, two players who know what it takes to win, speak so highly of Alphonso Davies only confirms how well we’ve done to bring them both in.

It also shows the level of ambition Arne Slot is operating at. The fact that Davies was seriously considered as a target tells us Liverpool were looking to make elite-level upgrades across the board, not just plug gaps.

Of course, missing out on a player like Davies is disappointing in theory, but in reality, we’ve brought in two of the most exciting young players in Europe. Frimpong has blistering speed, Wirtz has the vision and guile we’ve lacked in midfield, and both have the right mentality, you can see it in the way they talk about competition.

This is the kind of squad evolution that makes you think we’re not just building to compete, we’re building to dominate.