Frimpong forced off four minutes into Qarabag tie as injury troubles pile up for Slot
Jeremie Frimpong’s involvement against Qarabag was over almost as quickly as it started, with the defender forced off just four minutes into the contest due to an apparent injury.
The Dutchman broke down early in Liverpool’s Champions League clash at Anfield while tracking back to halt a counter-attack. He was immediately replaced by Wataru Endo, dealing another blow to Arne Slot’s already depleted defensive unit.
What injury did Frimpong suffer?
Frimpong was seen holding his groin as teammates surrounded him, prompting referee Ivan Kružliak to summon the medical team. However, reports since the match indicate the issue is more likely hamstring-related, according to The Athletic’s James Pearce.
A concerning injury record
Fitness problems have followed Frimpong since his arrival at Liverpool, with the 25-year-old already missing 18 matches for club and country during his time at Anfield. Availability has proven to be a persistent concern rather than a reliability point.
That said, this is Frimpong’s first Premier League season following his summer move from Bayer Leverkusen, and an adjustment period to the league’s physical demands was always expected.
Right-back options running dangerously low
Should Frimpong be sidelined for any length of time, Liverpool will find themselves worryingly thin at right-back. Conor Bradley has already been ruled out for the rest of the 2025/26 season after sustaining a serious knee injury against Arsenal.
While Calvin Ramsay is fit, he is not registered for the competition, leaving Joe Gomez as a potential short-term solution if Frimpong’s injury is not severe.
Defensive depth stretched to the limit
Liverpool’s backline resources are now under intense pressure. Virgil van Dijk, Andy Robertson, Ibrahima Konaté and Milos Kerkez remain available, although Konaté is currently away on personal leave. Meanwhile, Rhys Williams and Ramsay are ineligible for Champions League action, and a growing injury list has left Slot with very limited senior defensive cover.
As things stand, Liverpool’s defensive options are being pushed to breaking point.
