Liverpool's Challenge: Finishing Chances Ahead of Anfield Clash

Jeremie Frimpong has made the message from Andoni Iraola brutally clear ahead of Liverpool’s return to Anfield: stop wasting chances.

The Reds open their home campaign against Nottingham Forest on Saturday lunchtime, still chewing over the 2-2 draw at Newcastle United that felt like two points dropped until the 99th minute. Dominik Szoboszlai’s ice-cold penalty salvaged a result, but inside the dressing room the takeaway was far less forgiving.

‘Just finish the actions’

Speaking to Liverpoolfc.com, Frimpong laid out the mantra that has dominated the week at the AXA Training Centre.

“Finishing your chances, finishing the actions, because that’s what gets you the result,” the right-back said. “You can keep the ball all you want but if you don’t finish then it stays 0-0 or they end up scoring, so [the message has been]: just finish the actions.”

At St. James’ Park, Liverpool carved out enough openings to win the game before Szoboszlai’s last-gasp equaliser from the spot. They didn’t. Iraola’s first competitive match in charge showed flashes of his aggressive, front-foot style, but also a side still learning its way under a demanding new boss.

Frimpong isn’t surprised.

“It’s normal,” he said. “I think every coach has their own type of system that they want to play and it takes time to adjust and for us to know, and get used to it [to a point] where we’re comfortable with it.

“So, we’re still working on it but I think it’s going the right way.”

New role, new responsibility

One of the clearest changes under Iraola has been Frimpong’s role. Since the Spaniard arrived, the No.30 has been used exclusively at right-back, after splitting time between right wing and right-back last season.

“This whole pre-season I played right-back and I’m getting more comfortable there,” he explained. “Last season was a mixture of right wing and right-back, but right now it’s just been right-back. I feel like I’m defending more, I’m recovering more [and] I still attack, of course. But I like it, I’m enjoying it.”

There is another layer to that enjoyment: simply being fit enough to play. Last season’s injuries left him watching too often from the sidelines.

“Obviously first of all, [I am enjoying] just being on the pitch because last season [I had] injuries, so just being on the pitch and looking at my teammates and trying to help them out [is good].”

A more defensively disciplined Frimpong, still with licence to surge forward, fits neatly into Iraola’s blueprint. The challenge now is to turn that structure and possession into ruthless end product.

Anfield return and a familiar problem

Saturday brings the first taste of Anfield under Iraola, and Frimpong’s face lights up when he talks about it.

“This is home, this is where we’re comfortable at, this is where we are at peace,” he said. “So, it’s going to be a tough game, but we’re happy to be home again with all of our fans… when you’re at home with fans like Liverpool’s, it’s amazing.”

Liverpool know the point at Newcastle was respectable, but not enough to set the tone they want.

“Obviously we would have liked to win against Newcastle but I don't think it’s a bad result coming from St. James’ Park,” Frimpong admitted. “But we definitely want to win against Forest for sure. It’s going to be a hard battle but we’ll see what happens.”

That “hard battle” line isn’t just a cliché. Frimpong has already done his homework.

A coincidental scouting trip

A few weeks ago, Nottingham Forest played a pre-season friendly against Bayer Leverkusen. Frimpong, formerly of Leverkusen, was in the stands.

“I’ve watched Forest. They had a pre-season friendly against [Bayer] Leverkusen and I went over to watch them,” he revealed. “They play good football, they are really good.

“I really like how they play. Obviously they play similar to Crystal Palace last season because of the manager, and obviously we had a difficult time with Crystal Palace last season. So, like I said, it’s going to be a tough game, for sure.”

That reference to Crystal Palace is telling. Oliver Glasner has taken his high-energy, organised approach from Selhurst Park to the City Ground, and Liverpool remember well how awkward Palace made life for them.

So the stakes for Iraola’s Anfield bow are obvious. A new system still bedding in. A right-back embracing a more complete role. A fanbase ready to roar. And an opponent whose style has already caused Liverpool problems.

The message inside the camp has been stripped back to its essence. They’ve got the ball. They’ve got the structure. Now they have to finish.