Jeremie Frimpong of Netherlands looks on during warm ups prior to the International Friendly between Netherlands and Norway at Johan Cruijff Arena on March 27, 2026 in Amsterdam, Netherlands. (Photo by Dean Mouhtaropoulos/Getty Images)placeholder image
Jeremie Frimpong of Netherlands looks on during warm ups prior to the International Friendly between Netherlands and Norway at Johan Cruijff Arena on March 27, 2026 in Amsterdam, Netherlands. (Photo by Dean Mouhtaropoulos/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Jeremie Frimpong was forced off in the Netherlands’ 1-1 draw with Ecuador.
Ronald Koeman lamented the ‘blow’ that Jeremie Frimpong suffered during the Netherlands’ 1-1 draw against Ecuador.
The Liverpool man was forced off just 14 minutes after coming on as a substitute as half-time. For the fourth time this season, Frimpong had to limp off with a fitness setback. His maiden campaign at Anfield since arriving from Bayer Leverkusen has been plagued by injury problems.
So far, he has missed a total of 17 games. And Netherlands boss Ronald Koeman admitted that Frimpong has picked up a new issue. Koeman said: "That was a blow, we had to substitute him”
The Dutch media have suggested that Frimpong will be sidelined for a period. Certainly, he looks set to miss Liverpool’s FA Cup quarter-final against Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium on Saturday. The Reds then face Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League quarter-final first leg.
A report from De Telegraf said: “The speedster, who arrived from Bayer Leverkusen, has already been sidelined three times this season with a muscle injury and looks set to be out of action for another period.”
Frimpong’s injury means that Liverpool are again without a recognised right-back, with Conor Bradley recovering from a serious knee injury. Against City, Joe Gomez could deputise in the role but it could mean that Dominik Szoboszlai is reluctantly used there. Szoboszlai has been the Reds’ best player this season, with his strongest role in midfield.
Head coach Arne Slot recently said: "Dominik is, for me, a midfielder. He is, for me, a midfielder – how many times should I say this? Five or six times? So, the moment I play him in a different position, that doesn't come because I think I want to be a tactical genius. That comes because I don't have other options available in that position and I try to choose the best available player for that position. And if I then sometimes play him there when there is a full-back on the bench, please ask yourself the question, 'Is that full-back then available to play that game? Is it smart to play him, or is it a big risk to play him?
Because if I have another full-back available that is in good shape and in good form and is available to play, he will play there and Dominik will play in the midfield. So, every time I make a line-up from now on, you don't have to ask yourself that question – 'There must be a reason why he's playing right full-back?' – because Dominik is a very, very, very good midfielder for us. We have more than only Dominik, by the way, so that's also why I can bring him to another position.
“First of all, because he's able to play in different positions, because he's done really well also in that position. But if I have the chance, I play him in the midfield. "If everybody is available, the team is stronger when he's playing in midfield. But if we miss out five, six or seven players, which we've done a lot of times this season, then maybe we disagree. But then, for me, the team was then stronger when I made that choice by playing him at full-back and playing other players in midfield. Maybe I was wrong because we didn't win every single game he played at right full-back, but that was then my take on it. But if every player that we have in this squad is available, then the best team is not with Dominik Szoboszlai at right full-back."
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