NewsJeremie Frimpong: My first LFC goal was a cross... but it still felt so good
Jeremie Frimpong has admitted his first Liverpool goal came accidentally – but the moment felt no less special for that fact.
The Netherlands international, a summer signing from Bayer Leverkusen, was on the scoresheet in last Sunday’s FA Community Shield against Crystal Palace at Wembley.
An attempted cross from Frimpong on the right flank to the middle of the box instead drifted over the Palace goalkeeper and found the far corner of the net.
“No, it was initially a cross,” the Reds’ new No.30 said of the strike. “But I think I got a little push so it changed the direction of the kick. But I take it!
“It felt so good, obviously, to score my first goal for Liverpool, an amazing club like Liverpool. To score on your first competitive game is really nice.
“I had like 14 [family and friends there], they were really happy. But obviously it was mixed emotions because we lost.”
Arne Slot’s team were unable to claim the Community Shield as the Eagles prevailed in a penalty shootout after the 90 minutes ended with the score 2-2.
That disappointment has only increased Frimpong’s motivation to secure a first competitive victory with the club when the Premier League season begins with the visit of AFC Bournemouth to Anfield on Friday night.
“Hopefully we can get the win,” he said. “I want to win my first Premier League game with Liverpool. Obviously I wanted to win against Crystal Palace but we didn’t.
“So now I want to win against Bournemouth for sure. And for the fans as well – I want to win for the fans.”
Frimpong is one of seven players brought to the club during the transfer window so far, a group that includes his close friend and former Leverkusen teammate Florian Wirtz.
He recalled: “Sometimes, towards the end of the season when there was speculation, we would talk about it, ‘Imagine we both go there.’ And then obviously we’d be like, ‘Yeah, that would be nice, right?’ But it was never planned.
“That’s my boy.
“I’m pretty sure you know how good he is, you’ve probably seen him. When we won the league [at Leverkusen], he was a big part of the team.
“He’s always there in big moments, he always shows up. I don’t need to say any more, you guys know how good he is.”
Frimpong’s adaptation to a new environment on Merseyside has been helped and accelerated by the Dutch contingent he has joined at Liverpool.
On the playing side, of course, there is Cody Gakpo, Ryan Gravenberch and Virgil van Dijk, while he is also now under the guidance of a compatriot in head coach Slot.
“He was telling me that he would really like me to join and what I can bring to the team,” Frimpong said of his initial conversations with Slot. “He just gave me positive things, so that made it easier for me to come to Liverpool.
“When you have a manager that says positive things about you and gives you that feeling that he wants you, confidence that he can help you, it’s really nice as a player.
“He said my qualities could bring a lot to the team. My energy on the pitch. My work-rate. Those types of things.
“I think he expects the same [as at Leverkusen], just let my abilities talk, you know. My running, my energy. I run up and down, so bring that energy to Liverpool.
“For me, I’m just going to be ready for whatever position he puts me in. I’m comfortable in any position, so for me, whatever he says is cool. I don’t [have a favourite position] because I play the same regardless.
“If I play right-back, if I play right wing-back, if I play right wing, I play the same.”