Arne Slot told Mohamed Salah will be 'gutted' after Liverpool transfer blow

Liverpool star Mohamed Salah will be "gutted" by two key summer transfer decisions, according to a former Reds striker. The Merseyside club made several high-profile signings during the transfer window, including a British record £125million deal for Newcastle forward Alexander Isak on deadline day.

They also secured Germany midfielder Florian Wirtz from Bayer Leverkusen in a deal worth up to £116m. However, a £35m bid for Crystal Palace captain Marc Guehi fell through at the last minute.

Despite a hefty £450m spending spree that has been well received by fans, ex-Liverpool frontman Dean Saunders believes Salah will be less than pleased with two particular moves. The first is the controversial departure of Trent Alexander-Arnold to Real Madrid, and the second is the decision to replace him with Jeremie Frimpong from Bayer Leverkusen for £29.5m.

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Saunders suggests that Salah will miss his understanding with Alexander-Arnold on the pitch. Despite praising Frimpong's athleticism, he feels the Dutch international lacks the passing precision of his predecessor.

Speaking on Liverpool legend John Aldridge's Saunders said: "They lost Trent, which is a blow. If I was Salah, I'd be gutted because Trent's disguised passing is the best in the world. He doesn't even look sometimes and Salah just knows [where the ball is going].

"Every left-back Salah plays against, they know what he does. They know what he's good at, but they can't stop him. Somehow, he gets in behind him, because normally, Trent will just flip one over the top without looking.

"I know Frimpong is a good signing. He'll never be as good on the ball as Trent, but he's a good athlete. How do you sign someone better than Trent? It's hard, isn't it?".

Frimpong is currently sidelined after being substituted during Liverpool's 4-2 Premier League season opener against Bournemouth due to a hamstring problem. The injury meant the 24-year-old couldn't join the Netherlands squad, though he's anticipated to return for the Reds following the international break.

Dominik Szoboszlai has been covering the right-back role in his absence, with Jamie Carragher suggesting the Hungarian may have discovered his ideal position after finding it tough to make his mark as an attacking midfielder.

Szoboszlai found the net for the Reds during their victory over Arsenal last weekend, unleashing a thunderous free-kick from 30 yards out

Taking to social media following the match, Carragher wrote: "Nine points from nine is a great return for LFC after playing two of their toughest games, that were both drawn last season. The back four was outstanding, VVD. Dom has found his position! Full back suits him better than the attacking midfield role."

Meanwhile, ex-Liverpool defender Glen Johnson has cautioned Frimpong that he could also face stiff competition from Conor Bradley for a spot in Slot's starting line-up this season.

"I've seen Frimpong play a few times. Obviously, he likes to get forward; he'll be a good player that can help push and develop with Conor Bradley," he told the Liverpool Echo. "Who will start the season, we don't know, but it's just good to always have two good players that are probably both capable of being in the XI."

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