Liverpool right-back Jeremie Frimpong will be out until after the September international break. He is currently down with a hamstring issue. This is sheer bad luck. Manager Arne Slot now has to find a reliable deputy for Newcastle and Arsenal games. The trickle-down effect now comes into play. This injury makes Liverpool rethink its defense on an interim basis and perhaps even on a long-term basis.
Natural Heir: Conor Bradley’s Return
Conor Bradley has been signaled up as the short-term replacement due to Frimpong’s injury. He himself only recently recovered from a hamstring issue, but his return to training is a welcome one. Bradley’s familiarity with the Liverpool system and his attacking ability make him a natural. If his fitness is restored, he could fit into a role in the starting lineup.
🚨⚠️ Jeremie Frimpong will be out until the end of the international break, confirms Arne Slot.
He won’t be available due to a hamstring injury. pic.twitter.com/Rnnxjx4z0g
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) August 21, 2025
Joe Gomez: Talented but Injury-Prone
Joe Gomez is an alternative to arrive at right-back. He was tried on as a sub at Bournemouth. His Achilles injury continues to be a problem and limit his readiness. Slot indicated that Gomez is perhaps not fit enough to play. He has hinted that he will be taking a cautious approach to how he deploys him.
Frimpong : Midfielder Turned Full-Back
With full-backs pulled to the limit, Slot is considering a creative solution. He wants to deploy midfielders as makeshift right-backs. Wataru Endo was seen covering the last time. Dominik Szoboszlai and Curtis Jones are also contender. Jones has experience from past matches playing in that direction. His directness might make Liverpool fight competitive in close matches. But deploying midfielders in unfamiliar positions has risks.
Youth on the Horizon: Amara Nallo
Liverpool can also look to the academy side for the solution. 18-year-old academy graduate Amara Nallo is believed to be a long-term solution. He made a short debut coming against PSV in the Champions League. That was marred by him being sent off. However, his recent performances for the Under-21s have impressed staff. The club now believes in his progression path. Inviting him into first-team matches early would be ambitious but forward-thinking.
Leoni as a Wildcard Selection
New signing Giovanni Leoni is another possible cover. The Italian center-back has played at right-back in the past, including during pre-season. It is not preferable to convert a center-back into a full-back, but his new physique and defensive pedigree make him a handy stopgap during a crisis.
Why This Job Matters for Frimpong
It’s less about space-covering at the back—it’s about keeping Liverpool’s attack going. Frimpong’s pace, overlap runs, and threat in the end-third characterized Liverpool’s game. Slot may have to alter his strategy, perhaps substituting with a more defensive shape or introducing a cover midfielder for defensive balance.
A Balancing Act Ahead
Liverpool are now in a balancing act. Fitness, shape, and tactical flexibility are all at stake. Will Bradley be given a chance?. Can Gomez get up to speed in time?. Will Slot prioritize pushing Nallo’s development or will he remain with tactical tweaks with midfielders covering the flanks?.
The response will determine Liverpool’s flexibility as they pursue consecutive titles without one of their most exciting full-backs.
Author’s Note
Depth is a test that football poses, and Liverpool is being tested now. Stopgaps like Bradley or Gomez, supported by Bowen, may do for now, but players like Nallo suggest a longer-term thinking. Whoever Slot uses as the gap-filler needs to be more than a defender. He needs to help Liverpool win games when Frimpong is not on the field. If they can respond to the test, then this chapter can be another sign that Liverpool’s system. Especially under Slot that can weather and thrive in adversity.