Liverpool are the Premier League’s Champions-Elect, defeating Everton on Wednesday evening to restore their 12-point lead over Arsenal at the top of the table.

Eight games left. To fall now would be to become the biggest laughing stock in Premier League history, such is the gap which the Gunners surely won’t be able to bridge.

Arne Slot has been a revelation in the dugout, but his prowess in the coaching department must now be met by summer investment to ensure Anfield can do it all over again next season.

Sadly, FSG’s parameters can only stretch so far, and Trent Alexander-Arnold’s contractual renewal feels like an unattainable thing.

Liverpool’s right-back conundrum

Alexander-Arnold was all smiles as Liverpool won the Merseyside derby at Anfield, beaming from the sidelines as he recuperates from an ankle injury suffered against Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League last month.

But Real Madrid have come knocking and it looks like Liverpool’s vice-captain is going to answer the door. Approaching the end of his contract, Trent is expected to sign for the Spanish giants and end a lifelong affinity with Liverpool.

It’s a bruising blow, one that will sting for a while, but dismay is tempered somewhat by Conor Bradley’s emergence, the Northern Irish defender having been lauded by Alexander-Arnold for his “absolutely phenomenal” performances since breaking from the academy ranks.

Alexander-Arnold may need replacing, though, and reports suggest that Bayer Leverkusen’s Jeremie Frimpong is the man for the job; Sky Sports actually claim that direct contact has already been made between Liverpool and the player’s representatives.

Frimpong is expected to cost around £40m to prise away from Xabi Alonso, and given Liverpool’s need for sweeping changes this summer, Slot may be tempted to make do with his current options at right-back, even if the star player does indeed depart.

And yes, that is plural. Bradley isn’t the only man capable of a strong performance on the right wing of the backline, as we saw in the Merseyside derby.

Why Liverpool don’t need to sign Frimpong

FSG might have a bit of a cost-cutting reputation but Liverpool are built on the American owners’ diligent and sustainable model. Simply look at some of the Club‘s divisional rivals as a barometer, should frustrations ever threaten to boil over.

Strikers are needed, as is a left-back. Recent performances have perhaps shown us that Liverpool don’t pack a powerful enough punch in the middle of the park either, in spite of Slot’s midfield triumvirate being among the finest on the continent.

One of those midfielders is Curtis Jones, who doesn’t start every week but is a highly valued member of the squad. Events this summer may even see him take the mantle as Liverpool’s star and most experienced Scouser.

The 23-year-old has made 37 appearances this season, directly involved in ten goals and playing across a vast range of different positions. His tactical bendability is most impressive, making him a priceless part of the tactical process.

His most recent reshift came at right-back against Everton, a role that he performed with aplomb as Alexander-Arnold, Bradley and Joe Gomez all sat on the sidelines.

There’s little question that Jones is one of the most underappreciated players in the Premier League, ranking among the top 6% of midfielders across Europe’s top five leagues over the past year for assists per 90, as per FBref, and the top 1% for pass completion.

Not only is he creative, but he’s typically unerring in his distribution, maintaining a metronomic style while driving play forward with darting, energetic runs and a playmaker’s touch.

These are translatable skills, indeed convincing Slot to field him in defence against the Toffees. For extra context, this was not a hasty decision, with Liverpool’s boss revealing that “it’s something I’ve thought about” for a long time, suggesting that early tactical plans were mapped out “in the first-half of the season.”

Keeping a clean sheet, the England international looked composed and convincing in his makeshift berth, with The Liverpool Echo handing him a noteworthy 8/10 match rating and hailing the willingness to play out from the back while upholding a combative sheen.

Given that Bradley is on the cusp of a comeback and that Gomez (for now) and Quansah reside in the ranks too, it seems like Slot might have sufficient options to charge into the upcoming campaign with.

Frimpong’s a fine player, for sure, but is his signature actually necessary? Perhaps in more conventional circumstances, it would be, but Liverpool are about to attack the market with a vicious hunger, and resources may be better directed toward other areas.

Jones is underrated in some ways, but he’s also receiving new waves of recognition for his talents. Hailed as a “truly special” player by one hawk-eyed analyst, the versatile ace is everything you’d want in a midfielder.

He’s also on the rise from a financial standpoint, with Transfermarkt hiking up his projected market price of late to a valuation of about £42m. That’s more than the £40m-rated Frimpong, by the way.

Market Movers

Football FanCast’s Market Movers series explores the changing landscape of the modern transfer market. How much is your Club‘s star player or biggest flop worth today?

Whether Liverpool opt to enrich their Dutch contingency this summer remains to be seen, but Jones has proved that he’s a priceless part of this soon-to-be title-winning team, and financial attention might be better off turned elsewhere.

Related

He’s better than Frimpong: Liverpool working on deal to sign “complete” RB

Liverpool are already working on a deal to replace Trent Alexander-Arnold this summer.