Liverpool have been dealt an early-season setback with Jeremie Frimpong ruled out until after the international break following a hamstring injury sustained on his Premier League debut. The £30m summer signing from Bayer Leverkusen was withdrawn during the Reds’ 4-2 win over Bournemouth, and subsequent tests confirmed the issue.
Head coach Arne Slot defended the decision to take Frimpong off, despite some criticism:
“It had nothing to do with how he played,” Slot explained. “The medical staff suspected a hamstring problem, and they were right. It was a good call—otherwise, he could have been out for much longer.”
The injury leaves Liverpool short of options at right-back ahead of their trip to Newcastle on Monday and a clash with Arsenal shortly after. Conor Bradley has only just returned to training, while Joe Gomez continues to be carefully managed after his own pre-season setback. Slot admitted Gomez will be assessed on matchday to determine if he can fill in.
Despite the disruption, Slot remains optimistic about Frimpong’s long-term fitness, highlighting the defender’s positive record at both Celtic and Bayer Leverkusen. Still, the timing is frustrating, with Liverpool now facing a defensive puzzle.
Adding to the intrigue, new £26m signing Giovanni Leoni—a teenage centre-back from Parma—has already trained with the first team. Slot revealed he is considering whether to fast-track the youngster into the matchday squad, given the current shortage in defensive options.
With two injuries in the same position, Slot faces a tough balancing act. He joked about the imbalance in his squad:
“You can’t prepare for injuries in one position—you can’t have five right-backs. Although we do have three left-backs at the moment!”
Liverpool’s trip to St. James’ Park is now clouded by uncertainty, as Slot weighs whether Gomez is ready, Bradley is fit enough, or if Leoni should be thrown in at the deep end.
The Tactical Journal 
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