Liverpool manager Andoni Iraola has been dealt a fresh double injury setback, with Dominik Szoboszlai and Jeremie Frimpong both expected to miss some time after picking up injuries during Saturday’s victory over Brentford.
Szoboszlai returned to Liverpool’s starting lineup after missing the matches against Manchester City and LASK, but his comeback proved premature. The Hungarian midfielder was forced off around a third of the way into the game at the Gtech Community Stadium, with young midfielder Trey Nyoni coming on to replace him.
Frimpong also suffered an injury after being introduced at half-time as Liverpool looked to take advantage of their numerical superiority. However, the Dutch full-back lasted only a couple of minutes before going down with a hamstring problem. Rio Ngumoha replaced him and impressed while operating on the right flank.
Despite the setbacks, Liverpool secured all three points through goals from Victor Munoz and Alexander Isak.
Speaking after the match, Iraola revealed that Szoboszlai had suffered a recurrence of his previous injury rather than a completely new problem, suggesting the midfielder may not have fully recovered before returning to action.
“Dominik felt the same injuries, not a new injury, so he was probably not healed enough,” Iraola explained.
The Liverpool boss also confirmed that Frimpong’s problem was a new one, although he initially thought the defender was experiencing cramp. Iraola had introduced him in the hope that his attacking qualities would help Liverpool exploit Brentford’s disadvantage after the hosts were reduced to 10 men.
However, the manager admitted that losing both players for a period would be a significant setback.
Liverpool now face a demanding run of fixtures, beginning with their Champions League meeting against Villarreal. Brighton will then visit Anfield in the Premier League before the Reds face Chelsea in the Carabao Cup and Arsenal in the league.
A European trip to Fenerbahce and an away match against Crystal Palace will follow before the international break. Liverpool are then scheduled to host Manchester United after the break, although that fixture remains several weeks away.
Iraola will be hoping both Szoboszlai and Frimpong can return before the international break, but further information about their recovery timelines may emerge during Monday’s press conference ahead of the Villarreal game.
Liverpool are already without Hugo Ekitike and Conor Bradley, while Giovanni Leoni could return to training during the November international break.
Following the Brentford victory, Iraola praised his team’s performance and highlighted the importance of securing three points against a difficult opponent, particularly away from home.
The injury concerns, however, could force Liverpool to rely more heavily on their younger players. Nyoni may be required to take on additional midfield responsibilities, especially if Szoboszlai faces an extended spell on the sidelines.
