Criticism of Liverpool's New Deal: Will Firpoong Hinder Mohamed Salah's Performance?

Liverpool's management has faced sharp criticism for signing Dutch full-back Jeremy Firpoong from Bayer Leverkusen for €30 million, as a replacement for Trent Alexander-Arnold who left for Real Madrid in a free transfer earlier this month.

Former Liverpool star and four-time league champion in the 80s and 90s, Steve Nicol, expressed strong reservations about this deal in his conversation with ESPN, pointing out that Firpoong is more inclined towards attack than defense, which may create a conflict with Mohamed Salah's role in the forward line.

Nicol said: "I don't think Firpoong is suitable for the current lineup, as he is not a strong defender like Trent who used to give Salah complete freedom to perform his attacking duties.

The Dutch player leans towards offensive play, which could lead to interventions hindering Salah's tasks on the right wing".

He added: "If Salah is absent, Firpoong will play on the wing, and upon Salah's return, Firpoong will move back to the full-back position, and this rotation does not reassure me as it may impede Salah's performance".

Nicol concluded by saying: "I expect Liverpool coach Jurgen Klopp to realize this issue, and perhaps rely on Connor Bradley at right-back and leave Firpoong on the bench".

This comes amid Liverpool's significant moves in the transfer market, as the team also acquired Firpoong's former Leverkusen teammate, Florian Wirtz, in a deal worth £116.5 million.

These steps reflect Liverpool's ambitions to strengthen their ranks, but questions remain about the compatibility of these signings with the performance of the team's Egyptian star Mohamed Salah in the upcoming season.