Jeremie Frimpong has been ruled out with a hamstring injury until after next month’s international break, leaving Liverpool with limited right back options for Monday’s match away to Newcastle United.
The 24-year-old full back, who signed from Bayer Leverkusen this summer, was substituted in the second half of his Premier League debut last Friday, the 4-2 victory over Bournemouth at Anfield.
“*The medical team were completely right about Jeremie when they told me we had to take him off,*” Arne Slot, the head coach, said.
“I already said immediately after the game that 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.
*“So a good call to take him off otherwise he would have maybe been out for longer. We expect to have him back after the international break.*”
Getty: Robbie Jay Barratt
Frimpong’s absence leaves Slot with a potential headache at right back ahead of the visit to St James’ Park and also the hosting of Arsenal the following Sunday.
Conor Bradley missed both the Community Shield and the league opener with a muscle problem — with Slot adding the defender had “only trained for a few minutes with us today for the first time" — but the hope is that he will be fit to return.
Otherwise, Joe Gomez, who made his own comeback from injury when replacing Frimpong against Bournemouth, could deputise but he’s still experiencing some discomfort in his Achilles.
“*Joe is definitely an option but for him to play 20 minutes last week was quite a lot after a long time out,*” Slot added.
*“I wouldn’t say he’s had a setback but he was not able to train three days in a row completely with the team. Let’s see if he can involved on Monday. Wata [**Endo*] has played in that position before and so has Dominik Szoboszlai.”
'Newcastle are not a club in crisis'
Monday’s match has added spice given **Alexander Isak**’s current refusal to play for Newcastle amid interest in the Swedish striker from Liverpool, who had an opening bid of £110 million rejected earlier this month.
Slot refused to be drawn on the club’s pursuit of Isak but rejected the suggestion that the trip to Newcastle would be made easier by the striker’s absence and the turmoil surrounding the club.
“I am happy with the squad but if we think there is a player who can really make us better then this club has always shown they can bring them in,” said Slot.
“But it needs to be everything we want: right transfer fee, right position and the player wants to come to us.
Getty: Andrew Powell
“I don’t think [Newcastle] are a club with troubles. If you go to Newcastle, you know what to expect.
“We played them three times last season and twice their intensity was above ours. In the away game for 60 minutes they were so intense and fully deserved to lead and in the League Cup final they were more intense than us.
*“They don’t need to add anything to be intense playing at St James’ Park. A very good team who can make it a fight and they also have players with ability who are comfortable on the ball.*
*“They are one of the best teams in the league and it’s one of the most difficult away games you can have in a season, especially under the lights.*”