Liverpool enjoyed a much better evening on Wednesday as they thrashed Qarabag in the Champions League, but still suffered a big injury setback.
On a night where the Reds smashed six past the sorry Azerbaijanis at Anfield, the sight of Jeremie Frimpong hobbling from the pitch was perhaps the defining one of the night.
The Dutchman had become Liverpool‘s only fit senior right-back after Conor Bradley was ruled out for the season earlier this month.
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So many good displays vs Qarabag
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However, Frimpong has had injury problems of his own since joining in the summer and looks likely to have pulled a hamstring once again.
With the January transfer window still open until Monday, supporters are hopeful that Liverpool may finally decide that action needs to be taken. But speaking to the press after his team qualified for the Champions League last-16, Arne Slot suggested that that will not be the case.
Arne Slot dodges Liverpool right-back question
Wataru Endo did well at right-back against Qarabag, but fans will be nervous if the Japan captain has to face either or both of Newcastle and Manchester City.
Given Joe Gomez’s current injury, though, there is a genuine possibility of that happening. After confirming that Frimpong will not be ready for Saturday’s match, Slot was asked about the possibility of a new signing arriving before Monday.
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READ MORE: Confirmed: The teams Liverpool could now face in Champions League last-16 after 6-0 Qarabag win
“We as a club always make decisions that we at least think are smart decisions,” said the Liverpool head coach. “We don’t just look at the short-term, we look at the longer term. That’s why we sign young players as well.
“It always depends on if there are players available we think can help and if they are, can we afford them and will they be helpful for the longer term future? Because our players come back from injury as well. We don’t have a squad where we have four right-backs, that’s not how it works over here.
“Let’s first see how Jeremie is, maybe he’s not able to play Saturday but maybe he can play a few days later and we now go into a schedule where it’s one game per week.”
Who should be Liverpool’s starting right-back now Jeremie Frimpong is injured?
He could be missing for some time…
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By the sounds of things it would be a real surprise if Liverpool were to enter the market for a right-back in what remains of this week.
Slot is right in that injured players will return, and on that point he was asked on the likelihood of Gomez and Curtis Jones – who could also fill in at right-back – being back fit to face Newcastle.
“Curtis was sick, we have to wait and see how it evolves,” he said.
“Joe might be tight. We’re hoping and expecting to have Ibou [Konate] back, but I cannot guarantee this yet. Joe will be tight.”
After seeing Ryan Gravenberch drop into centre-back for Wednesday’s match, it is clear that centre-back is just as big a problem as right-back for Liverpool right now. But despite their glaring deficiencies, it looks likely that Liverpool are going to stick with what they have.
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