Jeremie Frimpong suffers fourth injury of season as Liverpool gets update

The right-back managed just 13 minutes before he was replaced in the Netherlands' 1-1 draw with Ecuador in Eindhoven, raising further concerns about Liverpool's availability at right-back

Ronald Koeman confirmed Jeremie Frimpong was replaced with injury in the Netherlands' game against Ecuador(Image: Getty Images)

Netherlands coach Ronald Koeman has confirmed he withdrew Jeremie Frimpong against Ecuador on Tuesday due to injury.

The Liverpool defender started on the bench and was introduced at the start of the second half. However, he lasted just 13 minutes and was replaced by Brighton center-back Jan Paul van Hecke. “That was a blow, we had to substitute him,” Koeman said after the match, indicating that Frimpong was unable to continue.

It means the Liverpool star is a doubt for Saturday’s FA Cup trip to Manchester City, with the Reds' recurring issues at right-back coming to the fore again. Frimpong has already been sidelined by three separate injuries this term and has missed 19 games as a result — making this his fourth injury of the campaign.

With Conor Bradley, Liverpool’s only other natural right-back, also injured, Arne Slot has had to find makeshift options in that role.

While Joe Gomez, Curtis Jones and Wataru Endo have been handed stints at right-back, it is midfielder Dominik Szoboszlai who has most often been deployed at full-back. “Dominik is for me a midfielder. He is for me a midfielder,” Slot said before Liverpool’s defeat at Brighton before the international break.

“The moment I play him in a different position, that doesn’t come because I think I want to be a technical genius, that comes because I don’t have other options available in that position.”

Jeremie Frimpong has given Liverpool a fresh injury scare(Image: Getty Images)

Slot and Koeman will hope Frimpong’s injury is not serious. Liverpool needs a strong end to the campaign to secure a Champions League place, while it is still alive in two cup competitions.

For Koeman, he is beginning to shape his World Cup squad ahead of next summer’s championships. “It is not even that I have a definitive idea in my head which 26 they will be. But there are quite a few I have clarity on,” said the ex-Everton coach on Tuesday.

“There are also points of discussion. And we have to wait and see regarding the players' fitness.

“We are in a good position with the Oranje,” he added. “However, we need to be fit and complete; we know that. We were missing three starting players with some extras: Jurrien Timber, Frenkie de Jong, and Memphis Depay.

“The overall fitness of a number of guys could also be a bit better. I think we are in a good position, but you can't be certain.”

The Netherlands learned its final World Cup group-stage opponent on Tuesday, with Sweden beating Poland to secure its place in Group F along with the Dutch, Japan and Tunisia.

That means the Liverpool quartet of Frimpong, Virgil van Dijk, Ryan Gravenberch and Cody Gakpo will face Alexander Isak in Houston on June 20.

The Netherlands drew 1-1 against Ecuador on Wednesday, with Willian Pacho scoring an own-goal after three minutes, before Enner Valencia restored parity later in the first half. Inter defender Denzel Dumfries was sent off after 12 minutes, impacting the Dutch performance in Eindhoven.