Brentford head coach Keith Andrews will be encouraged by a recent piece of Liverpool team news.placeholder image
Brentford head coach Keith Andrews will be encouraged by a recent piece of Liverpool team news. | Getty Images
London clubs Brentford and Crystal Palace soon face stricken Premier League champions Liverpool
Champions League weeks are always great entertainment for all those involved, particularly with the sheer number of goals scored in the games involving English sides this midweek.
It was not all good news on Wednesday, though, as the increased fixture list involved in playing two matches a week makes injuries more commonplace and potentially more devastating. Liverpool were hit with two injury blows during their 5-1 comeback win away at Eintracht Frankfurt in Germany, with one man confirmed as spending some time on the sidelines in a piece of news which will encourage the Reds’ upcoming London opponents.
Jeremie Frimpong out ‘for a few weeks’ and will miss Brentford and Crystal Palace clashes
Liverpool full-back Jeremie Frimpong was forced off after just 19 minutes against Frankfurt and it has since been confirmed by his manager that the Dutchman will spend a “few weeks out” with a hamstring injury.
The Reds travel to Brentford in the Premier League on Saturday before hosting Crystal Palace at Anfield - as the Eagles will hope to beat Liverpool for a third time already this season - on Wednesday 29. Both clubs will be encouraged by added injury concerns for their opponents, who have had a severe lack of continuity in the right-back position ever since Trent Alexander-Arnold departed in the summer.
Frimpong has already spent time out injured this season with Conor Bradley and Dominik Szoboszlai often playing the role, but it appears that the flying Dutchman will once again spend a period on the sidelines after being withdrawn in his first start since September. The 24-year-old is also likely to be absent for matches against Aston Villa, Real Madrid and Manchester City.
‘It’s not helpful’ - Slot on injury situation amidst Isak concern
Reds head coach Arne Slot said following Wednesday’s match: “We know we have the quality and the team that can compete, but it’s not really helpful that with Alisson being out, with Giovanni Leoni being out, I expect Jeremie to also definitely be out now for a few weeks.
“Jeremie only came back from a hamstring injury a few weeks ago. He played for the national team one game, came back to us and now unfortunately, after 10, 15 minutes, he had to go off.”
Frimpong is not the only Liverpool player who might be out for the Reds’ trip to the Gtech at the weekend. Ryan Gravenberch missed Wednesday’s game but might be passed fit, while the jury is still out on the fitness of Alexander Isak, who was replaced against Frankfurt with a groin issue.
Slot said on the Swede: “I don't think there's a rule that every single player is the same. But it also depends on what did he do when he didn't train with the team, what is the impact if you go to a new club as a big signing?
“So you cannot compare maybe a player that hasn't trained or played in pre-season at a smaller club than if you go to Liverpool. There are many factors that you have to take into account and there's not one thing if it's possible or not. I think we did exactly what was needed, we were really careful with him. It's a thin balance if you missed out on pre-season. Some march through it and some unfortunately get injured again.”
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