Arne Slot gives injury update on Jeremie Frimpong and Joe Gomez amid position crisis

The issues at right-back continue, with Liverpool lacking options in that position ahead of the Premier League trip to Sunderland on Wednesday after Dominik Szoboszlai's red card on Sunday

Arne Slot gave an injury update on Jeremie Frimpong and Joe Gomez after Dominik Szoboszlai's red card against Manchester City.

Liverpool will not be helped by the return of any options at right-back before the midweek trip to Sunderland, a problem that has been exasperated following Dominik Szoboszlai's red card against Manchester City.

The Hungarian was controversially dismissed in injury-time on Sunday's game for a pull on Erling Haaland, despite the ball continuing to roll into the goal. Pep Guardiola felt that sensible outcome would have been for the goal to stand, but instead referee Craig Pawson opted to dismiss Szoboszlai, who had opened the scoring at Anfield on Sunday.

His exquisite free-kick ultimately proved irrelevant, with Bernardo Silva and Erling Haaland netting late on to hand City a 2-1 win, and a first league derby over Liverpool since 1937.

But the immediate concern for Liverpool is who to deploy at right-back at the Stadium of Light. It has problem position for the Reds, due to Conor Bradley and Jeremie Frimpong's unreliable fitness levels throughout the season.

The latter is currently absent after sustaining a groin injury last week against Qarabag, while Joe Gomez is close to recovering from a hip problem.

Asked if he could see either returning in time for the Sunderland game, Slot replied: "Jeremie for sure not. We knew that when he got injured, it was a few weeks.

Szoboszlai picked up a late red card against City(Image: Getty Images)

"To be honest, I don’t expect Joe back for Wednesday, but you never know. Then he is back from being out for three weeks, would you play him now?

"I have to make that decision. Let’s see what decision we make. We have other players that can play that position as well. Dom played very well in that position again, but unfortunately, he is unavailable for Wednesday."

Asked for his verdict on the game, Slot added: "I am feeling anger and disappointment. First half, City were the better team on the pitch without creating that many big chances except the one from Haaland in the first minutes.

Dominik Szoboszlai faces a ban after being sent off in Liverpool's defeat to Manchester City(Image: Getty Images)

"They played better with the ball, but the improvement we have made since three or four months ago was visible for everyone.

"Second half, our standards went up, in terms of intensity, we were pressing them all over the place and that is the biggest improvement we have made in the last two or three months, that the whole is capable against one the teams that is probably best, maybe the best team in England in ball possession, to do so well off the ball is a big improvement.

"A fantastic second half. I was expecting more than being one goal up and then two goals conceded."