Liverpool boss Arne Slot has offered an injury update ahead of the Premier League trip to Newcastle United on Monday
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - AUGUST 04: Jeremie Frimpong of Liverpool during the pre-season friendly match between Liverpool v Athletic Club Bilbao at Anfield on August 04, 2025 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by Carl Recine/Getty Images)
Liverpool right-back Jeremie Frimpong is set for a spell on the sidelines
(Image: Carl Recine/Getty Images)
Liverpool boss Arne Slot is facing a headache at right-back with Jeremie Frimpong set for an extended spell on the sidelines. Frimpong was replaced an hour into last Friday's 4-2 opening Premier League win over Bournemouth after complaining of a hamstring issue.
The Holland international has subsequently undergone tests that have revealed an injury that will keep him out until after next month's international break.
And Slot admits the quick thinking of the Liverpool medical staff who suggested Frimpong be substituted has spared the 24-year-old an even lengthier spell in the treatment room.
"The medical team were completely right about Jeremie to tell me that I had to take him off because he is out until the end of the international break and that happened during the game," said the Reds boss.
"I think I got criticised a bit for taking him off, didn't I? I've already said it had nothing to do with how he played but we felt he had an issue with his hamstring and by we, I mean the medical staff.
"They were completely right. It was a good call to take him off otherwise he maybe would have been out for longer. We expect to have him back after the international break."
Conor Bradley - who has been called up for Northern Ireland's forthcoming World Cup qualifiers against Luxembourg and Germany - resumed training only on Thursday having been missing since last month's tour of the Far East, while Joe Gomez made his first Premier League appearance since December with an 18-minute run-out from the bench against Bournemouth.
It means Slot will have a difficult call when his team visit Newcastle United on Monday, with Wataru Endo - who briefly played at right-back against Bournemouth - Curtis Jones and Dominik Szoboszlai all on standby to deputise for Frimpong.
"Conor trained for a few minutes with us today for the first time," said Slot.
"At the moment we only have two injuries but unfortunately, it is two in the same position. The good thing is we have other players that can play there. Wataru played there for a few minutes, Dominik Szoboszlai has already played there. There are other options we can explore.
"Joe Gomez is definitely one of them but for him to already play 20 minutes - that is already quite a lot.
"I wouldn't say he has had a setback but he wasn't able to train three days in a row completely with the team, which is completely normal when you have been out for so long and all of a sudden the manager needs you for 20 minutes.
"He is training with the team, so let's see where he is on Monday and if he can be involved with the team or even start. But there are other options.
"Jeremie has a very positive injury record. Conor was out once or twice last season. These things happen in a season.
"You cannot prepare for two injuries in one position. It would be stupid for us to have three, four right-backs and five left-backs - although we have three left-backs at the moment! We are unlucky the right-backs are injured."