Liverpool’s season has had enough twists already, but this latest one lands right where it hurts: the right side of the back line. Summer signing Jeremie Frimpong has been ruled out for several weeks with a muscle issue that looks to be in the groin/hamstring area, after pulling up early in Wednesday’s emphatic 6–0 win over Qarabağ FK in the UEFA Champions League.
The positive? It is not as severe as first feared. The problem? Liverpool can barely afford any absence in that position right now.
In his pre-match press conference at the AXA Training Centre, Arne Slot tried to balance realism with relief.
“He’s out for a few weeks, but not as bad as we thought,” he said — the kind of update that sounds comforting until you look at the fixture list and the available bodies. Frimpong will miss Saturday’s Newcastle United F.C. game, and the timing puts serious pressure on the squad as Liverpool head into a run that includes clashes with Manchester City F.C., Sunderland A.F.C., and Brighton & Hove Albion F.C.
Why this injury stings more than most
This is not just “one player out.” Liverpool’s right-back depth has taken hit after hit, and Frimpong’s absence exposes the lack of specialist cover.
Conor Bradley is already ruled out for the season with a serious knee injury sustained earlier this month. Joe Gomez is also unavailable for the Newcastle match, with fitness concerns following a hip issue suffered in last weekend’s 3–2 defeat at AFC Bournemouth.
So, for Slot, this is no longer a “rotation” conversation. It is a problem-solving exercise under pressure — and in a season where Liverpool’s margins are already thin. The Reds sit sixth and have shifted focus firmly toward securing a top-four finish, with a significant points gap to Arsenal F.C. at the summit. When you are chasing, not cruising, you cannot keep gifting opponents weak spots to target.
Frimpong’s first year: promise, pace… and interruptions
Frimpong arrived with a clear narrative: speed, aggression, and long-term planning for a post-Trent Alexander-Arnold era. He was seen as a long-term replacement — a player who could stretch the pitch, turn defence into attack in a heartbeat, and give Liverpool another direct threat down the flank.
But his first season has been stop-start. Slot acknowledged that the Dutchman has already dealt with multiple injury spells since arriving. The frustrating part for Liverpool is that even when a player is “only out for a few weeks,” momentum can disappear quickly — and rhythm matters for full-backs, perhaps more than any other position. They have to defend wide spaces, make repeated high-speed runs, and instantly shift between roles. If you are even a few percent off, you get punished.
Who plays right-back now? Slot has options — but no perfect one
The irony of Frimpong’s injury is that it happened during a match that underlined Liverpool’s attacking potential. They tore Qarabag apart. Yet as soon as he went down, the night also revealed an emergency plan: midfielder Wataru Endo came on to fill in.
That substitution may feel like a preview of the short-term reality. Slot has hinted at multiple possibilities:
- Calvin Ramsay is a natural right-back and is now back in contention.
- Curtis Jones is available again after illness and could be used in a hybrid role if Liverpool want more control in possession.
- Dominik Szoboszlai has already impressed in the role at times this season, offering energy and drive, even if it changes the balance of the team.
None of these solutions is “Frimpong like-for-like.” Some will provide control but less attacking punch; others will offer legs but raise defensive questions. That is the trade-off Liverpool must manage — and Newcastle will not politely ignore it.
The boost: Konaté returns at the right moment
There is, at least, one significant piece of good news in the defensive department. Centre-back Ibrahima Konaté has returned to training and is expected to be in the squad for Saturday, after missing three matches on compassionate leave following the death of his father.
From a football perspective, his return matters because it stabilises the spine. Even if Liverpool have to improvise at right-back, having Konaté available can reduce the risk — quicker recovery runs, stronger duels, and a more secure platform when the back line is being pulled wide.
It also matters emotionally. Liverpool have had to absorb off-field realities as well as on-field injuries. The squad will want to rally around him, and that kind of unity can sharpen focus when the schedule turns brutal.
What this means for Liverpool vs Newcastle
This is where the story becomes urgent rather than just unfortunate. Newcastle are not a team you want to face while experimenting. They play with speed, physicality, and a direct edge that forces defenders into repeated decisions. If Liverpool’s right side is patched together, the communication between the right-back, right centre-back and right winger becomes critical. One misunderstanding, one late press, one poorly timed overlap — and the whole structure bends.
Slot’s challenge is straightforward but demanding: protect the team without killing its attacking identity. Liverpool cannot turn into a cautious side overnight — especially when chasing league objectives — but they also cannot treat right-back as an optional detail. Newcastle will test it immediately.
The bottom line
Frimpong’s injury is a blow, even if it is “not as bad as we thought.” It lands at a time when Liverpool are short of specialists, dealing with a season-ending absence for Bradley, and waiting for Gomez to regain full availability. The next few weeks will test the squad’s flexibility and Slot’s decision-making under pressure.
Liverpool have the talent to navigate this. They also have no time to feel sorry for themselves. Newcastle at home is the immediate hurdle — and if the Reds want their season to finish with momentum rather than regret, their response on that right side has to be sharp, organised, and brave.
