Liverpool manager Arne Slot has revealed that Jeremie Frimpong will be out until after the international break as a result of a hamstring injury.
The former Bayer Leverkusen defender sustained the issue during the Reds' 4-2 win over Bournemouth on the opening day of the Premier League season, where he was forced off on the hour mark.
Slot confirmed at full time that Frimpong had felt discomfort in his hamstring, although there was no serious concern about his condition straight after the game.
However, speaking to the media ahead of Monday's Premier League tie with Newcastle United, Slot revealed that Frimpong's hamstring problem will sideline him until the end of the September hiatus.
"We felt Jeremie had an issue in his hamstring - the medical team did. They were right," Slot said. "He's out until the end of the international break. A good call from them as otherwise he could have been out for even longer."
Liverpool games Frimpong will miss with hamstring injury
Bayer Leverkusen's Jeremie Frimpong pictured on March 11, 2025
While Frimpong will not be at Slot's disposal for a few weeks, the Dutch defender has avoided a serious problem that could have ruled him out for a matter of months, thanks to the Liverpool medical team's swift recommendation to remove him on Friday.
Frimpong should therefore only be missing for two matches, although they are two particularly tricky matches for the champions, who must firstly make do without their summer signing at St James' Park against Newcastle on Monday night.
The former Celtic man will also watch on from the sidelines when Arsenal pay a visit to Anfield on August 31, and he will not be available for the Netherlands' upcoming World Cup 2026 qualifiers against Poland or Lithuania.
However, Frimpong should be on track to make his return to action against Burnley on September 14, or failing that the visit of Everton for this season's first Merseyside derby six days later.
Who could replace Frimpong at right-back for Liverpool?
Liverpool's Dominik Szoboszlai celebrates on February 23, 2025
Frimpong's absence would not be so problematic for Liverpool if Conor Bradley and Joe Gomez were fit and firing, but that is currently not the case, as the Dutchman's backups have also been struggling with their own fitness problems in recent weeks.
Gomez was sent home from the Reds' pre-season tour of Asia due to an Achilles concern, and while he did come off the bench against Bournemouth, Slot revealed that he was not able to train in any of the three days that followed.
Meanwhile, Bradley is yet to play this season as a result of his own knock, and the Northern Irishman only returned to full training for a few minutes on Thursday, so him playing the full 90 is surely out of the question too.
Slot name-checked Wataru Endo and Dominik Szoboszlai as two players who could provide emergency cover at right-back; the latter starting in that role would allow Ryan Gravenberch and Alexis Mac Allister to reprise their effective partnership in midfield; the Dutchman missed the Bournemouth win due to the birth of his child.
Therefore, a scenario could unfold where Szoboszlai or Endo complete 45 or 60 minutes at full back, before Bradley or Gomez or introduced for the final 30, or the latter two could complete one half each at St James' Park.
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