Liverpool now have a “big problem” on their hands ahead of their trip to Newcastle United, following an injury update from reliable journalist Lewis Steele.
The Reds head to St James’ Park on Monday evening, in what could be a feisty encounter amid the Alexander Isak situation.
It promises to be a big early-season test for Liverpool, and speaking in his pre-match press conference on Thursday, Arne Slot confirmed that Jeremie Frimpong will miss out with a hamstring injury picked up against Bournemouth last week.
“The medical team was completely right about it, to tell me I had to take him off [against Bournemouth],” Slot said.
“He’s out until the end of the international break, and that happened in the game. I think I got criticised a bit for taking him off, didn’t I?
“I already said immediately after the game it had nothing to do with how he played. We felt he had an issue with the hamstring, the medical staff, and they were completely right.
“Good call to take him off, otherwise he would maybe have been out for longer. We expect him to be back after the international break.”
Now, Steele has taken to X to claim that Liverpool could have a “big problem” against Newcastle, due to fellow right-backs Conor Bradley and Joe Gomez also being fitness doubts:
“Arne Slot confirms Jeremie Frimpong is injured and out of the trip to Newcastle, plus Arsenal (H) as slated in column. Joe Gomez still not fully fit. Conor Bradley trained just once. A big problem for Monday.”
Szoboszlai to start at right back vs. Newcastle?
This is far from ideal for Liverpool heading into a massive game, with Frimpong making such a positive impression since arriving from Bayer Leverkusen.
If Bradley and Gomez are also both not deemed fit enough to start, it may be that Dominik Szoboszlai needs to be drafted in at right-back, in a role he rarely plays.
On the plus side, that would allow Slot to bring Ryan Gravenberch back into the team more easily, starting him alongside Alexis Mac Allister and Florian Wirtz, but he would still rather have his right-backs available.
Liverpool will have to overcome a tough St James’ Park crowd, not to mention a strong Newcastle team, with the club feeling wronged when it comes to Isak.
For that reason, victory would feel significant for the Reds, as they look to continue their 100% record in the league this season.