Jeremie Frimpong was forced off with a hamstring injury in Liverpool's Champions League clash against FK Qarabag, with the wing-back already suffering from muscle problems this season
Jeremie Frimpong makes his way off the pitch injured during Liverpool's game against Qarabag
Jeremie Frimpong makes his way off the pitch during Liverpool's game against Qarabag(Image: Getty Images)
View Image
Jeremie Frimpong was been withdrawn through injury during the opening stages of Liverpool's Champions League encounter with FK Qarabag, with the defender now likely to miss Saturday's game with Newcastle United.
The Netherlands international appeared to suffer a hamstring problem after just minutes on the pitch, with Wataru Endo introduced as his replacement.
The summer recruit has been plagued by muscle problems throughout this campaign, with this latest setback appearing particularly serious.
The wing-back instantly grabbed his leg and collapsed to the turf whilst pursuing Qarabag's wide player, prompting Dominik Szoboszlai to alert the dugout that a substitution was required as medical personnel examined him.
This fresh injury concern compounds Liverpool's mounting fitness crisis, with Conor Bradley sidelined for the remainder of the campaign following a severe knee problem.
The Northern Ireland defender has successfully undergone an operation on the complaint, which occurred during the stalemate against Arsenal.
Liverpool are already stretched defensively with Joe Gomez unavailable through injury, alongside long-term casualties Giovanni Leoni and Ibrahima Konate, who continues to be absent on compassionate grounds, reports the Liverpool Echo.
Former Newcastle striker Alexander Isak represents another key figure anticipated to miss the coming months after fracturing his leg during the 2-1 triumph over Tottenham shortly before Christmas.
Liverpool have been troubled by fitness problems of late, with Gomez sustaining a fresh complaint during the reverse against Bournemouth.
The Reds were forced to field the bulk of their final League Phase encounter against Qarabag with two midfielders operating in defence as Endo replaced Frimpong, whilst Ryan Gravenberch filled in alongside Virgil van Dijk.
Slot discussed Liverpool's injury concerns during his press conference earlier this week, saying: "Even if you would reconsider and you come to a different decision, then the question is are we able to change it? Can we make this squad bigger with the money available and the things we can do?
"We are maybe one or two players short compared to last season in terms of numbers, and if you add then three long-term injuries to that, then all of a sudden it is quite a lot. This is not going to be a popular opinion what I am going to tell you now.
"But maybe the reason we won the league last season is we had to play Paris Saint-Germain in the last 16, because as you know they beat us and we had every time a week to prepare for our next game. ""We are aware, every manager is aware, the bigger squad you have, the better equipped you are for so many games.
"But I am also aware of the fact that even today I had to disappoint one or two players that would prefer to play. Now if you have 10 or 15 who want that, that is also not a good thing to have.
"It is not an easy balance to find, but obvious because of the three long-term injuries, now it is a disbalance, that is obvious."
Content Image
Content Image