EXCLUSIVE: The lowdown on Hugo Larsson as Liverpool eye Frankfurt star

Liverpool have been one of the most consistent teams in Europe this season with Arne Slot making an electric start as new head coach.

And the Dutchman has done so while making minimal tweaks to the squad left to him by Jurgen Klopp with only Federico Chiesa coming in during the summer transfer window. A chase for Martin Zubimendi came to nothing and the club are still being linked with moves for midfielders in January and beyond.

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One name associated with a transfer to Anfield is Eintracht Frankfurt’s Hugo Larsson. The 20-year-old has defied all expectations since arriving from Malmo in 2023 and is now on the radar of many of Europe’s top clubs.

He was recently rewarded with a new contract, until 2029, and has scored three goals in 14 matches this season.

Anfieldwatch spoke to footballtransfers.com Bundesliga expert Ronan Murphy for the lowdown on Larsson and whether he could fit into Liverpool’s squad.

What kind of player is Hugo Larsson?

Hugo Larsson is a rangy midfielder who can play as both the number 6 and number 8, having been outrageously compared to both Rodri and Kevin De Bruyne by the official Bundesliga website.

He’s quick on and off the ball, and is very good at positioning himself in passing lanes to break down opposition attacks.

In the Liverpool squad, who would you compare him to?

Larsson’s profile is more defensive than the current Liverpool midfield, as he takes fewer risks on the ball and is mainly being deployed by Eintracht Frankfurt to stop opposing plays rather than create opportunities.

He does not attempt to dribble past players or make too many passes, preferring to keep things simple on and off the ball.

How rapid has his progress been?

Since joining Eintracht Frankfurt, Larsson has been a crucial member of the first team, immediately becoming a regular starter after joining from Malmo.

He played all their Conference League group stage games last season except for one, and then was injured for the knockout round which saw Frankfurt leave the competition at the hands of Belgian side Union SG.

Frankfurt have been hugely surprised by his impact and rely on him to do the dirty work in midfield, with his partner often changing depending on the opposition.

Why are the big clubs looking at him?

Defensive midfielders are precious in today’s market, with so few elite No. 6s around. Although he has been nominally playing as a central midfielder for Frankfurt, his duties are mostly defensive to allow his young teammates the chance to flourish.

Larsson’s own age profile makes him an appealing proposition as he should only improve year-on-year.

Do you see him fitting in at Liverpool?

Larsson would likely perform a similar role to Wataru Endo if he were to join Liverpool, and would be the ideal successor to the Japanese midfielder who is now in his 30s and coming to the end of his career.

The step up could be difficult initially, so his introduction would need to be managed and expectations would not want to be too high for a player who has mostly gone under the radar despite the bizarre Rodri comparison.

Is he good enough for the step up?

Liverpool have had many success stories from the Bundesliga, but equally recent signings have cast some doubt over the transition from Germany to England.

Naby Keita’s failure to have a major impact and Thiago’s difficulty of staying fit would cause many to believe that it might be too much, too soon for the Sweden international, but Endo’s reliability and dependability is something Larsson could also offer at Anfield.

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