Liverpool boss Arne Slot has been hit with a fresh selection headache just days before the Reds’ crucial Premier League trip to Newcastle.
The Dutch manager revealed in his press conference that Jeremie Frimpong will be sidelined until after the international break, ruling him out of upcoming fixtures against both Newcastle and Arsenal.
Frimpong was forced off during the second half of last weekend’s 4-2 victory over Bournemouth. Although initially thought to be a precautionary change, medical checks later confirmed a hamstring issue. Slot admitted the early withdrawal was the right call, insisting that had he stayed on, the defender could have been out for even longer.
👉 Slot explained:
“The medical staff were correct in their judgment. Jeremie had discomfort in his hamstring and now he’ll miss the next couple of matches. Fortunately, it’s not more serious, but it’s still a blow because both our absentees are in the same position.”
đź”´ Defensive Dilemma for Slot
Frimpong’s absence leaves Liverpool’s right-back situation in disarray. Conor Bradley has only just returned to light training after his own spell out, while Joe Gomez’s fitness remains uncertain after struggling to train consistently in recent days.
That lack of options could force Slot into improvising at the back once more. During the Bournemouth match, Wataru Endo was briefly shifted to right-back, but the experiment backfired quickly as the Cherries took advantage down that flank.
Another possible stop-gap could be Dominik Szoboszlai, who was tested in the role during pre-season. While the Hungarian handled himself well against lower-league opposition, facing Newcastle’s pace and power on the wings would present a far tougher task.
âš˝ The Bigger Picture
Liverpool’s recent trips to St James’ Park have already provided defensive nightmares, conceding three goals last December before losing again to the Magpies in the Carabao Cup final. With Champions League qualifiers Newcastle up next, Slot will be desperate for Gomez to recover in time to stabilize his backline.
Fans will be hoping Frimpong returns straight after the break when the Reds face Burnley, but for now, all eyes are on Monday night — and how Slot plans to patch up his defence in the meantime.
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