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Liverpool could be without two players as Arne Slot's side prepares to face Arsenal in the last Premier League game before the first international break.
The Reds and the Gunners haven't had to wait long to renew their rivalry. Last season’s top two meet in just the third game of the new campaign, with both sides eager to make an early statement after busy summers.
The early signs suggest they could once again be battling at the summit. While it’s too soon to dismiss other contenders, Manchester City and Chelsea have already stumbled against last season’s 17th- and 12th-placed finishers, dampening some of their preseason optimism.
Midfielder Alexis Mac Alliste r sat out the dramatic 3-2 win over Newcastle United due to a minor injury, though he is not expected to be sidelined for long.
In his absence, Slot deployed Dominik Szoboszlai at right-back, with Curtis Jones partnering Ryan Gravenberch in midfield. Teenager Rio Ngumoha went on to steal the headlines with a 110th-minute winner.
Mac Allister, however, is expected to return in time for Liverpool’s huge clash with Arsenal at Anfield next weekend. “We are hoping [he will be available], yes," Slot confirmed during his post-match press conference.
“He had to leave the training pitch two days ago and that would not even be the biggest problem if he would have had a proper pre-season," Slot continued. "But he missed out for so many weeks."
Frimpong remains out with a hamstring problem. The defender made a bright start following his move from Bayer Leverkusen but was sidelined after his Premier League debut.
During that match, repeated sprints to track Bournemouth’s Antoine Semenyo took their toll, and he was eventually withdrawn with discomfort in his hamstring and is not expected to feature against Arsenal.
The Reds boss said medical staff advised him to take Frimpong off because they felt the Netherlands international was struggling.
"I think I got criticised for taking him off, didn't I?" Slot joked in his pre-Newcastle press conference.
"It had nothing to do with how he played, but we felt he had an issue with his hamstring - and by we, I mean the medical staff. It was a good call to take him off. We expect to have him back after the international break."
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