Arne Slot welcomes Jeremie Frimpong 'problem' after Liverpool injury return

Liverpool welcomed Jeremie Frimpong back from injury after a month on the sidelines last weekend, giving Arne Slot a nice decision to make against Wolves on Tuesday

Jeremie Frimpong returned from injury during Liverpool 5-2 West Ham.(Image: Steven Halliwell/MI News/NurPhoto via Getty Images)

Liverpool full-back Jeremie Frimpong could return to the starting XI against Wolves after coming off the bench against West Ham, but Arne Slot says his fitness will need to be managed carefully.

Frimpong sustained a muscle injury against Qarabag in the Champions League in January but returned on Saturday, forcing an own-goal to make it 5-2 to Liverpool on the day.

With Conor Bradley out with a long-term injury, Liverpool is short of options at right-back. Joe Gomez started there at the weekend but he too needs his minutes to be managed. That was his first start in around two months.

"Having Jeremie back is nice, but we have three games in seven days, and you have to take that into account, especially when players come back from injuries," Slot said.

"We know the importance of every game. It is a challenge for the player, the manager and the performance staff. I prefer to have the problem of managing his minutes, rather than seeing him with the medical staff."

Liverpool is the heavy favorite to beat Wolves but the Midlands side has seen an upturn in fortunes of late. It has drawn with Arsenal and beat Aston Villa in recent games.

Arne Slot during a Liverpool press conference.(Image: Andrew Powell/Liverpool FC via Getty Images)

"Wolves are doing much better than their results show," Slot added. "The whole season, they've hardly been beaten by a big goal difference. Recently they've been getting points and a win against Aston Villa. It'll be a difficult game tomorrow."

While Frimpong is back, his former Bayer Leverkusen teammate Florian Wirtz is set to sit out the trip to Wolves. He is hoping to be back for the Champions League visit to Galatasaray next week.

"The game probably comes too soon tomorrow and maybe the game at the weekend," Slot confirmed. "We hope to have him back next week."

Alexander Isak is currently out but the Swede is working his way back to full sharpness and could return at the end of the month.

Midfielder Wataru Endo, meanwhile, has undergone surgery on an injury. Japan manager Hajime Moriyasu said last week that his hopes of playing at the World Cup are not over but his season is likely to be over.

Conor Bradley and Giovanni Leoni are long-term absentees, with Frimpong and Gomez likely to get plenty of minutes, as long as they stay fit, as a result.

Liverpool.com says: With Wirtz missing, the return of Frimpong could be important. Breaking down a low block requires players who can beat a man and find a pass, and both of them fit into that category.