Liverpool's Right-Back Dilemma: Frimpong Out, Slot's Gamble at Newcastle

Well, that's football for you. One minute you're celebrating a hard-fought 4-2 win in your opening Premier League match, and the next you're staring at a sudden injury crisis in a key position. That's exactly the situation Liverpool and new head coach Arne Slot find themselves in after summer signing Jeremie Frimpong was forced off with a hamstring issue in his debut against Bournemouth.

Key Highlights

• ✓ New signing Jeremie Frimpong is out with a hamstring injury until after the September international break.
• ✓ Frimpong was substituted on his Premier League debut during the 4-2 victory over Bournemouth.
• ✓ Conor Bradley has returned to training, but his fitness for the Newcastle match is a major question mark.
• ✓ Arne Slot is considering unconventional options, including playing midfielders like Dominik Szoboszlai at right-back.
• ✓ The injuries create a significant selection headache for the upcoming intense fixture against Newcastle United at St James' Park.

An Unfortunate Start for a New Red

You have to feel for Jeremie Frimpong. The 24-year-old, brought in from Bayer Leverkusen for a reported £29.5m to fill the massive boots of Trent Alexander-Arnold, had already opened his account in the Community Shield. But just 60 minutes into his Premier League debut, his day was over. The club has now confirmed he'll be sidelined until after the international break, which runs from September 1st to the 9th.

This means the speedy right-back is set to miss the crucial upcoming league games against Newcastle United at St James' Park on Monday and the Anfield clash with Arsenal a week later. The silver lining, if you can call it that, is that the injury could have been much worse. Arne Slot revealed that the decision to substitute him was purely on the advice of the club's medical team, who spotted a potential issue.

Speaking at his pre-Newcastle press conference, Slot explained, “The medical team was completely right about Jeremie to tell me that I had to take him off... And with ‘we’ I don’t mean me, but the medical staff. And they were completely right.” It was a proactive move that likely prevented a more severe, long-term layoff. Slot even joked about the initial reaction, saying, "I think I got criticised for taking him off, didn't I?"

💡 Slot's Insight: "It was a good call to take him off, otherwise he would have maybe been out for longer. And we expect to have him back after the international break."

The Right-Back Conundrum Deepens

Here's where things get really tricky for Liverpool. Frimpong's injury doesn't just happen in a vacuum. It coincides with the fact that the team's other primary right-back, Conor Bradley, is only just returning to fitness himself. The Northern Ireland international has resumed training, which is fantastic news, but throwing him straight into the cauldron of St James' Park would be a massive gamble.

Then there's Joe Gomez. He made a welcome return to the pitch for the final 20 minutes against Bournemouth after his own minor injury setback during the pre-season tour. However, Slot dropped a rather concerning detail, revealing that Gomez “wasn’t able to train three days in a row completely with the team.” This suggests he is still being managed very carefully and might not be ready for a full 90 minutes of high-intensity football.

It’s a perfect storm of bad luck. Slot himself admitted as much, stating, "We only have at the moment two injuries, unfortunately it is two for the same position... you cannot prepare for two injuries in one position, it would be stupid for us to have three full-backs." He then humorously added, "Although we have three left-backs at the moment! So we’re unlucky that the right full-backs are injured.”

Thinking Outside the Box

With both specialists either out or not fully fit, Slot might have to get creative. He's already mentioned that others could fill in, noting, "Wata [Endo] played in that position for a few minutes, Dominik Szoboszlai already played in that position." This is where the debate really heats up, as pundits and writers have started weighing the merits of these unconventional solutions.

The ECHO's Paul Gorst and Theo Squires both floated the idea of deploying Dominik Szoboszlai at right-back. While it's certainly a "left-field experiment," the Hungary captain did operate there at times during pre-season. Gorst argued that his quality in possession and tireless energy could be a huge asset, especially in a game where Liverpool will need to control the ball and quieten the Tyneside crowd.

Starting Szoboszlai there would also solve another dilemma: how to fit the returning Ryan Gravenberch into the midfield. It’s a gamble, for sure, especially against the pace of Newcastle's wingers like Harvey Barnes and Anthony Gordon, but it's a testament to the tough spot Liverpool is in. The consensus seems to be that if Gomez isn't deemed ready to start, Szoboszlai is the most likely, and perhaps most intriguing, option.

The Newcastle Challenge: Weighing the Risks

The timing couldn't be worse. A trip to face Newcastle United is one of the toughest fixtures on the calendar, known for its "white-hot atmosphere." Liverpool's defence will need to be at 100% to withstand the Magpies' attack, which makes the right-back situation all the more critical. Every option on the table comes with its own set of risks and rewards.

Ian Doyle of the ECHO proposed a different strategy: a mix-and-match approach. He suggested starting Conor Bradley, who should be reasonably sharp after featuring in early pre-season, for the first hour. Then, as he tires, Joe Gomez could come on for the final 30 minutes. This would manage the minutes of both players while still having a natural defender in the position for the entire match.

Ultimately, the decision rests on Slot's shoulders. Does he risk Bradley from the start? Does he trust Gomez's fitness for a full game? Or does he roll the dice on a creative, attacking solution with Szoboszlai? Each path is fraught with potential pitfalls, but as Theo Squires noted, "it’s a gamble but needs must." This is the first real test of squad depth and tactical flexibility for the new manager.

Conclusion

The bottom line is that Jeremie Frimpong's hamstring injury has thrown an unexpected wrench into Arne Slot's early-season plans. What should have been a period of settling in has now become a tactical puzzle. With both of the squad's recognized right-backs either injured or just returning, the manager is forced to weigh up a series of gambles ahead of a daunting trip to Newcastle.

Whether it's a cautious approach with a minutes-managed Conor Bradley and Joe Gomez, or a bold experiment with Dominik Szoboszlai, the choice will be fascinating. It's a stark reminder of how quickly fortunes can change in the Premier League. All eyes will now be glued to the team sheet on Monday night to see how Slot navigates his first major injury headache as Liverpool boss.