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Liverpool boss Andoni Iraola has revealed that Dominik Szoboszlai did not worsen his lingering hamstring injury against Brentford - but admitted the Reds will have to be patient with his next return to action.
After missing the first two games for Liverpool immediately following the recent extended international break, Szoboszlai was named in the starting XI for Saturday’s 2-1 win over the nine-man Bees in west London.
However, Szoboszlai was forced off after just 32 minutes, with Iraola stating after the game that it was a recurrence of the same issue sustained while away with Hungary in the Nations League that prevented the midfielder from featuring against both Manchester City and LASK Linz.
Speaking in a press conference on Monday previewing Liverpool’s home clash with Villarreal in the Champions League, Iraola reiterated that it was not a new injury and that Szoboszlai had also not made his existing problem any worse.
Frustration: Dominik Szoboszlai went off injured in the first half as Liverpool beat Brentford
The Spaniard said: “It is not a new injury. I think it was in the same place it was probably the past week.
“He hasn’t worsened the injury but probably we have to be a little bit more patient until he recovers fully.
“But it’s not like he now has to wait a lot more time to come back - it’s more or less the same situation he was in last week. We need more patience with him.”
Iraola praised Szoboszlai for attempting to play through the problem, sharing how he pushed to feature in a physically demanding fixture against Brentford.
Iraola continued: “I appreciate the effort he did the other day to be available, to want to contribute in a very difficult game - you know it is going to be very physical, one of the most physical teams in Brentford.
“To put himself in front and want to play, speaks very well about him.”
Liverpool right-back Jeremie Frimpong was also injured against Brentford, substituted off just six minutes after replacing Ronald Araujo at half-time.
“I think they are different circumstances,” Iraola said when asked for an update on the Dutchman. “Jeremie Frimpong is a muscle injury, and it happened in the second, third minute he was playing - difficult to predict.
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“We will have to wait until he recovers, but it is going to be difficult I think before the [next international] break. We will try, but it is going to be difficult to have him.”