Liverpool head coach Arne Slot has provided an injury update on Jeremie Frimpong after he limped out of the Reds’ 6-0 win over Qarabag.
Slot’s side eased to victory at Anfield on Wednesday evening, sealing their place in the Champions League knockout rounds in the process.
The one negative on the night was Frimpong’s injury, however, with the Dutchman limping off with what looked like a hamstring problem early on.
Speaking in his post-match press conference, Slot confirmed that the right-back has suffered a muscle issue and doesn’t know exactly how long he will be out for.
“It’s a muscle injury, but I don’t know how long that is going to be,” Slot said.
“It’s a muscle so it’s not a knee [injury] and a muscle usually has to do with overloading a player. Not always, of course, because he stretched in the moment, but it is the risk.
“That’s why I took Hugo and Florian off tonight as well, because those are the players that are not as used as Macca or Dom [Szoboszlai], who play longer at both of these levels.”
On the plus side, Slot was slightly more optimistic about Curtis Jones, Joe Gomez and Ibrahima Konate being available for Saturday’s visit of Newcastle United in the Premier League:
“Curtis was sick, so we have to wait and see how it evolves. Joe might be tight. [I am] hoping and expecting to have Ibou [Konate] but I cannot guarantee this yet, but we are hoping Ibou will be back with us. Joe will be tight.”
Another frustrating setback for Frimpong at Liverpool
Frimpong looked devastated as he left the field against Qarabag, with his latest injury a cruel setback after finding a promising run of form.
Having been generally injury-free at Bayer Leverkusen, the 25-year-old has struggled for availability at Liverpool, and it now looks like another spell on the sidelines awaits.
With Conor Bradley out for the rest of the season, the Reds are looking horribly light at right-back, and signing a player who can do a job both there and at centre-back this month would be shrewd business.
That feels unlikely, though, which means either using Gomez at right-back, when fit, or deploying the likes of Dominik Szoboszlai, Wataru Endo and Jones there, which is far from ideal.
