Liverpool may be forced to deal with a fresh injury lay-off to Jeremie Frimpong.placeholder image
Liverpool may be forced to deal with a fresh injury lay-off to Jeremie Frimpong. | AFP via Getty Images
Liverpool transfer decision revealed after Jeremie Frimpong came off with an injury issue at Qarabag
Liverpool may be forced to do without Jeremie Frimpong for another extended period of time after the right-back was substituted early on in the Champions League victory over Qarabag on Wednesday night.
The Dutchman pulled up after just four minutes appearing to hold his groin and was substituted to be replaced by Wataru Endo, with the Reds left looking short in the position after Conor Bradley was ruled out for the season.
Endo put in a solid shift in the unfamiliar position against admittedly tame opposition, as the Reds ran out rampant 6-0 winners to secure a spot in the top eight of the Champions League table and therefore a passage straight into the round of 16.
The question over what to do at right-back will plague Arne Slot over the coming days, though, amidst a nervous wait to learn the extent of Frimpong’s injury and with the race for the top four in the Premier League wide open.
Sky Sports: Liverpool transfer plan after Frimpong injury revealed
According to reports by Sky Sports News, Liverpool are ‘not expected’ to enter the January market for a new defender despite the latest injury to Frimpong.
Reporting states that the Reds remain alert to existing transfer targets becoming available but do not generally make ‘reactive’ moves in the market, preferring to stick by their long-term transfer plans for squad improvement. The injuries to Bradley and Frimpong have not altered this.
The Reds believe they still have options to cover in defence, with Endo stepping in diligently and both of Joe Gomez and Ibrahima Konate expected to be back in contention soon. Ryan Gravenberch, Dominik Szoboszlai and Curtis Jones have also shown they can step into the back four when needed, just as Gravenberch did at centre-back on Wednesday in the compassionate leave absence of Konate.
Frimpong will be assessed over the coming days and the extent of his injury concern will be confirmed, but it is unlikely that this will have an impact on Liverpool’s transfer business over the final days of the winter window.
Slot appeared to rule Frimpong out of Liverpool’s next Premier League game against Newcastle United on Saturday, with Manchester City following on February 8 ahead of clashes with Sunderland, Brighton and Nottingham Forest.
‘It always depends’ - Slot speaks on transfer possibilities
Slot said on the prospect of entering the market for another player: "We as a club always make smart decisions. We not only look at the short-term but the long-term. That's why we sign young players, who can develop.
"It always depends on if there are players that are available that we think can help us. If they are, can we afford them? And is this to be helpful for the longer-term future, because our players come back from injury as well.
"We have to do smart things for the near future and the longer future. Let's see how Jeremie is. Maybe he is not able to play Saturday, but maybe he is able to play one or two days later. But we now go into a schedule with one game per week. That would usually mean less injuries, but you're never sure."
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