Liverpool Now Have an Interesting View of Their Right-Back Situation After Jeremie Frimpong's Injury

Liverpool's right-back crisis deepened when Jeremie Frimpong suffered a muscle injury just minutes into their Champions League clash against Qarabag on January 28, 2026, forcing him off after only two to four minutes.[2][3] The Dutch wing-back, who joined from Bayer Leverkusen for £35 million ($375 million) last summer, pulled up during a sprint, appearing to clutch his groin or hamstring—his recurring problem area.[1][2][3]

Frimpong's 2025-26 season has been plagued by injuries, missing 18 games total, including a two-month hamstring absence that sidelined him for 12 straight matches.[2][3] Prior issues include multiple hamstring strains (54 days/12 games, 21 days/4 games, 13 days/2 games) dating back to 2021-22.[3] Manager Arne Slot confirmed post-match it's a muscular issue, not knee-related, likely from overloading, but duration remains unclear: "It’s a muscle injury, but I don’t know how long that is going to be."[3] He hinted at a short-term outlook—"Maybe he’s not able to play Saturday but maybe he’s able to play one or two days later"—framing it in days rather than weeks.[3][4]

This compounds Liverpool's defensive woes: Conor Bradley is out for the season with a serious knee injury, Joe Gomez has a hip issue (expected back soon), Ibrahima Konate missed recent games on compassionate leave, and fourth-choice center-back Giovanni Leoni recovers from an ACL tear until next season.[4] Despite the chaos, Liverpool thrashed Qarabag 6-0, securing last-16 advancement and easing fixture congestion ahead of tough Premier League tests against Newcastle and Manchester City.[2][4]

Fabrizio Romano quashed rumors of a panic buy, noting Liverpool assessed right-back options after Bradley's injury but found none worthy in the winter window's final days. Gomez should return for Man City if not Newcastle, leaving Slot to improvise short-term while Frimpong heals.[4] The injury ironically offers respite, highlighting squad depth strains but averting a transfer scramble. Slot remains cautious: "Jeremie is out, let’s see what the future brings."[4]

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