Liverpool has 5 players missing for Newcastle game as Arne Slot faces Dominik Szoboszlai dilemma

Liverpool has a number of injury issues to contend with ahead of facing Newcastle United in the Premier League, with Jeremie Frimpong now set to miss a few weeks

Dominik Szoboszlai during a Liverpool training session.(Image: Nikki Dyer - Liverpool FC via Getty Images)

Liverpool will be without five players as it takes on Newcastle United in the Premier League this weekend, with Jeremie Frimpong the latest star to be sidelined.

Arne Slot explained on Friday that Frimpong's injury is not as bad as first feared. However, he is set to be missing for a number of weeks because of the issue he sustained against Qarabag in the Champions League.

Joe Gomez is still missing because of the heavy knock he sustained when he was clattered into by Alisson Becker at Bournemouth. Ibrahima Konate, though, is set to return after he missed a couple of fixtures due to the death of his father.

Long-term absentees Alexander Isak, Conor Bradley, and Giovanni Leoni are all absent at the moment. Alongside Frimpong and Gomez, they are the only players Slot will be without this weekend.

"I think it's throughout the whole season, every single game is crucial, but the way we've positioned ourselves now probably makes every game even more crucial because that's definitely what we want to achieve," Slot said.

"So then it is a crucial game, as the next one is a crucial one, as the next one is a crucial one as well. We've experienced how tough it is to play against Newcastle in the one-and-a-half year I have been here now.

Arne Slot emerges for a Liverpool training session.(Image: Nikki Dyer - Liverpool FC via Getty Images)

"It's always been a very tough contest, a very tough game for us, but for them as well. So, a great game to look forward to because we both had a good result during the week and a home game at Anfield is always something to look forward to."

Midweek, Liverpool beat Qarabag in the Champions League, scoring six times. The next challenge will be to prove that form can translate into domestic matters.

"I prefer to win it than losing that game, so that is always helping," Slot continued.

"Every game you win helps — in the first place because we qualified for the last 16 and, second of all, because it was a good win with some good performances, players scoring goals.

"That's always helpful. But we are fully aware of the fact that one win isn't enough at this club.

"So, the next one is coming fast with Newcastle and I'm 100 per cent sure that that game is a bigger challenge than the one we faced on Wednesday.

"But [it is] always helpful to win. Especially if we've lost in the last minute at Bournemouth, then it's always nice to have a better feeling during the week."