Liverpool fans are holding their breath after a devastating blow in their Champions League clash against Qarabag, as star right-back Jeremie Frimpong was forced off the pitch just three minutes into the game with what appears to be a recurring hamstring injury. Manager Arne Slot has delivered a grim update, all but ruling the Dutch defender out of this weekend’s crucial Premier League showdown against Newcastle United, intensifying the Reds’ mounting defensive woes.
The incident unfolded early in Wednesday’s European fixture at Anfield, where Frimpong clutched his hamstring and collapsed in visible distress. The 25-year-old, who has been a key figure in Liverpool’s backline this season, looked heartbroken as he limped off the field. This setback echoes a similar hamstring issue he suffered back in October during a match against Eintracht Frankfurt, which sidelined him for nearly two months.
Slot, speaking post-match to TNT Sports, didn’t mince words about Frimpong’s immediate future. “It’s obvious when he goes out like that we don’t expect him to play against Newcastle on Saturday,” the Dutch boss admitted, via ESPN’s Beth Lindop. The update has sent shockwaves through the Anfield faithful, with fears mounting that Frimpong could face another extended spell on the sidelines if the injury is confirmed as a hamstring tear.
Liverpool’s injury crisis is reaching critical levels, particularly in defense. Slot was already navigating the game without key players like Ibrahima Konate, Joe Gomez, Giovanni Leoni, and Conor Bradley. Despite the absences, the Reds delivered a commanding 6-0 victory over Qarabag, securing third place in the Champions League league phase and a direct spot in the last-16, bypassing the playoff round.
There were silver linings amid the gloom, including Mohamed Salah breaking his goal drought with his first strike for Liverpool in nearly three months. The Egyptian King’s contribution helped orchestrate a dominant performance, but Frimpong’s early exit cast a long shadow over the night.
Reflecting on the team’s resilience, Slot praised his squad’s defensive solidity. “I don’t think we had a bad five or six minutes,” he told TNT Sports. “That’s actually all we have during the other games, five, six, seven or eight difficult minutes where we then usually concede. Today, we didn’t have that seven or eight minutes, and as a result of that we didn’t concede.”
He added, highlighting the team’s mentality: “The last minute, I really liked, 6-0 up, they had one counter-attack, and I saw all my players back in their box, and I’ve said many times if we improve in both boxes, there’s a lot, a lot to play for for this team, even if we have a few injuries, it’s harder for us than some other teams in this league.”
As Liverpool prepares for a tough test against Newcastle, the absence of Frimpong could force Slot to reshuffle his options further. With no official timeline yet on the defender’s recovery, the club faces a nervous wait for scan results. In a season where depth is being tested like never before, Anfield is truly on red alert—will the Reds’ title aspirations hold firm, or will this injury crisis derail their campaign?