Liverpool's Frimpong out until after international break

New Liverpool right-back Jeremie Frimpong has been ruled out of action until after the international break with a hamstring injury.

Frimpong, 24, was substituted on his Premier League debut as the Reds beat Bournemouth 4-2 in their opening top-flight game last week.

He will miss league games against Newcastle United at St James' Park on Monday and against Arsenal at Anfield a week on Sunday.

Liverpool head coach Arne Slot 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-match news conference on Thursday.

"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."

The first international break of the season is from 1-9 September, with the Premier League returning on the weekend of 13-14 September when Liverpool face Burnley at Turf Moor on the Sunday.

The injury to Frimpong leaves Slot short on options at right-back.

Frimpong was signed from Bayer Leverkusen for £29.5m in May to replace Trent Alexander-Arnold, who left to join Real Madrid.

Northern Ireland defender Conor Bradley only returned to first-team training on Thursday, while Slot said Joe Gomez, who has suffered long injury lay-offs during his career, was unable to train for three days in a row after replacing striker Hugo Ekitike late on against the Cherries.

"Jeremie [Frimpong] has a very positive injury record. Conor [Bradley] was out once or twice last season. These things happen," said Slot.

"At the moment, we only have two injuries, but unfortunately it is two in the same position. The good thing is we have other players that can play there. Wataru Endo played there, Dominik Szoboszlai also.

"Joe Gomez is definitely one of them, but for him to already play 20 minutes - that is already quite a lot.

"He is training with the team, so let's see where he is and if he can be involved on Monday. You cannot prepare for two injuries in one position."