Liverpool defender Jeremy Frimpong is expected to be out for six weeks after sustaining a hamstring injury against Eintracht Frankfurt, it has been reported, a big blow to Arne Slott at a busy time.
Jeremy Frimpong picked up a hamstring problem in Liverpool’s game against Eintracht Frankfurt and could be sidelined until December. The Dutch international played just 19 minutes in the game against Germany before being substituted off, and has since missed the Reds’ losses to Brentford and Crystal Palace.
Arne Slott admitted in Germany that his compatriot has been sidelined for an extended period after confirming the right-back is expected to be sidelined for several weeks. “Jeremy is not in good shape,” Slott said before the game against Brentford.
“What I’m saying is he’s definitely not going to be able to play today, tomorrow and next week. He’s got a hamstring injury so it’s going to take some time.”
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According to the Daily Mail, Frimpong is currently facing a six-week layoff, which is his second hamstring injury this season.
The full-back was sidelined with injury in the Premier League game against AFC Bournemouth, but missed just two games and returned after the September international break.
However, Frimpong, who has already missed two games since his latest setback, could miss a further seven games if his reported six-week absence is accurate.
Liverpool host Aston Villa on Saturday night, November 1st, Real Madrid on Tuesday, November 4th, and travel to Man City on Sunday, November 9th. The Reds will return to Anfield after the international break for games against Nottingham Forest (Saturday 22nd November) and PSV Eindhoven (Wednesday 26th November) before traveling to West Ham United on Sunday 30th November.
Liverpool are then scheduled to open December with a home match against Sunderland on Wednesday, December 3, with the game scheduled six weeks after their European trip to Frankfurt.
Frimpong is expected to be close to a return by then, with Slott’s side set to travel away to Leeds United on Saturday 6 December and Inter Milan on Tuesday 9 December.
Frimpong’s expected period of absence provides new context to Liverpool’s controversial team selection for Slott, who lost to Crystal Palace in the League Cup.
The Dutch manager made 10 changes to his starting XI in the 3-0 defeat to the Eagles, resting most of his senior squad for the night, while naming an entirely academy-based replacement bench.
With Conor Bradley representing the only option at senior right-back in Frimpong’s absence, Slott referenced the Northern Ireland international when defending his controversial selection policy.
“Everyone can have their opinion on that, but given our squad, probably 15 or six first-team players available, this is the choice I made,” he explained after the match.
“Last time we played Southampton here in the League Cup, Giovanni Leoni was injured, but the emphasis was on the amount of money we spent (in the summer), so we don’t have as big a squad as people say.
“People suddenly think we have 25 players, but we mainly have 20 players and then we have four injured.
“For example, I only have one right-back, Conor Bradley, and every time I had to play him twice in three days or three times in seven days[last season]it meant he had to come off with a hamstring injury or something.
“Are you willing to take that risk with such an important week coming up? Last time I played against a player who was completely unprepared. I thought he was ready, but this was the first time. Alexander Isak, he was injured.
“Last time we played against Southampton, Leoni was injured and Hugo Ekitike got a red card. We have a big week coming up so we can’t use those.
“But there are always options. What if I were playing with Virgil (van Dijk) and Ibou (Konate)? If one of them got injured, people would say: ‘What a stupid choice’.”
In addition to Bradley, Van Dijk and Konate, Slott chose not to risk key players such as Mohamed Salah, Dominik Szoboszlai and Hugo Ekitike against Crystal Palace.
The Dutch manager has expressed hope that Ryan Gravenbirch will recover from his ankle problem in time for the game against Aston Villa, but both Alexander Isak and Curtis Jones remain doubtful with injuries, the Liverpool Echo reports.
Given Frimpong’s absence, it is perhaps understandable why Bradley chose not to risk Szoboszlai and Ekitike against Palace to avoid further depletion of midfield and attacking options ahead of a crucial week’s games.
If Bradley were to be injured during Frimpong’s absence, Slott would have to choose between Szoboszlai, Joe Gomez, Wataru Endo and Calvin Ramsey as options at right-back.
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