Jeremie Frimpong has again been linked with a Liverpool exit as the injured star's Anfield struggles continue
Liverpool's Dutch defender #30 Jeremie Frimpong leaves the game after picking up an injury during the English Premier League football match between Brentford and Liverpool at the Gtech Community Stadium in London on October 17, 2026. (Photo by Glyn KIRK / AFP via Getty Images) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. /
Jeremie Frimpong comes off injured not long after coming on for Liverpool in their 2-1 win at Brentford (Image: Glyn KIRK / AFP via Getty Images)
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Jeremie Frimpong is set to miss his 26th game for Liverpool through injury when the Reds travel to Crystal Palace on Sunday.
He has only ever made 26 Premier League appearances for the club, since signing from Bayer Leverkusen in the summer of 2025, with just 27 of his 43 outings for the club coming from the start.
Currently sidelined with a muscle injury, it is the fifth different lay-off he has endured during less than 18 months on Merseyside. To say Frimpong’s Liverpool career has not gone to plan to date would be an understatement.
It all started so well, scoring on his debut in the Community Shield against Crystal Palace at Wembley. But his first injury, suffered on his Premier League debut against AFC Bournemouth, left him playing catch-up.
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He was then at fault for the Eagles winner when the two sides met again for the Reds’ last visit to Selhurst Park last September, in a game which signalled the start of the wheels coming off for Arne Slot at Anfield.
The Dutchman subtly called out his compatriot publicly that day, and it has only been an ongoing struggle ever since. The biggest disappointment came last summer when he failed to make the Netherlands’ World Cup squad.
In truth, he has rarely looked the right fit for the Reds or for Premier League football, with his injury woes only undermining his efforts to prove himself at the club his family supports.
And given the sight of him limping off against Brentford last month, only six minutes after coming on, was the fourth time he has been forced off injured during his brief Liverpool career, Reds supporters have already, admittedly a little brutally, run out of patience.
His arrival was something of an opportunistic swoop from Liverpool, activating his £29.5m release clause to help cover the departure of Trent Alexander-Arnold. The fact that he also counted as homegrown, given his time in the Man City academy, was an added bonus.
And the same was true of his ability to play further forward, given that it was known Mohamed Salah would be departing for the Africa Cup of Nations mid-season.
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But Frimpong is a wing-back, having shone in the position during his time with Leverkusen. The Reds do not line up in such a way, with the Dutchman neither an ideal fit at right-back or right-wing.
Handed a poisoned chalice as a half-hearted replacement for Alexander-Arnold and Salah, perhaps we should not be surprised that he has fallen short.
A return of three goals and three assists demonstrate his shortcomings in comparison to the legendary pair that made the Liverpool right flank their own for the best part of a decade.
To date, his arrival looks like a calculated risk that has not paid off. Now being linked with a move to Saudi Arabia,with Middle Eastern reports claiming interest from Al-Hilal, supporters would admittedly not be too disappointed if such a move came to fruition.
Perhaps, if Conor Bradley were not a long-term absentee, there would not be such qualms about Frimpong. Instead, he would be seen as just a versatile squad option.
But too many times he has been left wanting when opportunity has come his way, though it should not be overlooked that Ronald Araujo had already usurped him at right-back following a below-par start to the season prior to his latest setback.
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 25: Ronald Araujo of Liverpool celebrates after the Premier League 2026/27 match between Liverpool FC and Brighton & Hove Albion at Anfield on October 25, 2026 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by Jan Kruger/Getty Images)
Ronald Araujo celebrates after Liverpool's win over Brighton (Jan Kruger/Getty Images)
Yet his biggest crime remains simply not being Alexander-Arnold, who himself continues to be linked with a potential return to Anfield amid his own struggles at Real Madrid. Ultimately, the homegrown hero's boots have, perhaps understandably given all he achieved in during his time in red, proven far too big to fill.
It remains to be seen if Liverpool will look to sign Araujo permanently, boasting a £47.5m purchase option in his loan contract from Barcelona, while Joe Gomez’s long-term future is also uncertain given that he is out of contract at the end of the season.
But regardless of the pair’s own futures, it remains to be seen whether Andoni Iraola’s long-term plan would be to persist with a natural centre-back at right-back or instead opt for a more traditional full-back option.
With Bradley said to be slowly closing in on a return to team training, perhaps soon we will have the answer.
Should the Northern Irishman successfully navigate his return, you cannot help but wonder where it would leave Frimpong in the pecking order.
And having already been linked with a move to Barcelona prior to the latest reports of Saudi Arabian interest, it would not be a surprise if this is a case of no smoke without fire.
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Winwin claims that Frimpong himself is open to a switch to the Middle East where former Liverpool sporting director, Richard Hughes, would look to snap him up for the second time after making his own move to Al-Hilal.
Given the Reds took advantage of a release clause to sign the Dutchman, they should be confident of making their money back despite Frimpong’s Anfield woes. At this point, perhaps a premature parting of ways would be best for both parties.
Of course, there are still eight weeks to go until the January transfer window opens, and the wing-back remains under contract on Merseyside until 2030. There is no need for either party to rush any decision.
But if Frimpong wishes to salvage his Liverpool career, he is running out of lives.
When back from injury after the international break, he will have to grab any opportunity with both hands if he is to stand any chance of turning the tide on a Reds stint that many supporters have already written off.