Liverpool Rebuild: Downey on Frimpong, Wirtz and Slot’s New Shape | OneFootball

Nicol’s Doubts on Frimpong, Trev’s Tribute to Alisson, and the Nat Phillips Farewell

Liverpool’s Evolution Under Slot: Departures and Arrivals

With Jurgen Klopp gone and Arne Slot stepping into the dugout, Liverpool’s summer reshaping continues to fuel discussion. On the latest episode of The Daily Red from Anfield Index, Trev Downey, standing in for Dave Hendrick, brings both clarity and emotion to a range of topics, from Alisson’s legacy to Nicol’s scepticism of new signing Jeremie Frimpong.

The standout player farewell is Nat Phillips, who has finally sealed a permanent move to West Bromwich Albion after nine years at Liverpool. Trev marks the moment with warmth and detail: “That, my friends, is why we should all have warmth in our heart when we think of Nat Phillips… he stepped in when we were absolutely decimated and did a job which contributed to us actually getting Champions League qualification in quite a dramatic way.”

Nicol on Frimpong: “Is He Going to Get in Salah’s Way?”

One segment of the podcast takes aim at former Liverpool defender and now ESPN pundit Steve Nicol, who expressed doubts about Frimpong’s suitability. Trev didn’t hold back in response.

Quoting Nicol, Trev says: “‘If Salah is not fit, then Frimpong starts where Salah plays… Defensively, he’s not good. He’s just the same as Trent. He’s not that good a defender.’”

Trev’s response is sharp and dismissive of Nicol’s logic: “It’s just such a basic, borderline infantile way of analysing the situation… He’s talking about Mo Salah and Frimpong there and the two boys getting in each other’s way, like they don’t have a football brain between them.”

He continued, emphasising how team systems evolve under new managers: “It’s like he doesn’t understand that the team could slightly change its approach and shape. It has to be just, you know, like-for-like replacements. It’s a bit daft.”

Photo: IMAGO

Klopp’s Sliding Doors Moment: “We Don’t Have the Money for Ali”

The episode also highlights a revealing quote from former manager Jürgen Klopp, featured in the new club documentary Alisson: My Story. According to Klopp, Liverpool nearly missed out on signing Alisson Becker due to a planned move for Nabil Fekir.

Trev quotes Klopp directly: “We were close to signing Fekir and if we sign Fekir, we don’t have the money for Ali. It was obviously a pretty important decision for the future of LFC.”

This insight repositions one of Liverpool’s most pivotal modern transfers as a near-miss, making Alisson’s impact even more profound in hindsight.

Photo: IMAGO

Liverpool’s Strategic Shift: Frimpong and Florent Wirtz Central to New Plans

Discussing Frimpong’s arrival and Trent Alexander-Arnold’s departure, Trev notes that fans expecting direct replacements miss the point of a changing tactical landscape under Slot. “Frimpong or Bradley do not have to become Trent Alexander-Arnold. The team will be different.”

Trev’s bullishness about the season ahead is clear: “How can you not be excited to see what this team looks like with just that addition of one player? We’ve already improved by a factor of something quite large when you add one of the most coveted players in the world to your team.”

Closing Sentiment: Celebrating the Anfield Index Community

Trev closes the show by praising the Anfield Index community and the content being created across the channel: “It is, as I’ve said a million times before, I think the premier fan media entity out there and it’s an honour to be part of it.”

From Nicol’s controversial punditry to Phillips’s dignified send-off, this episode of The Daily Red captures the full spectrum of what it means to follow Liverpool FC in transition, with sharp insight, historical awareness, and genuine affection.