Arne Slot issues ‘smart’ Liverpool transfer demand and Frimpong injury update | Football | Sport

Liverpool head coach Arne Slot has dismissed the idea of dipping into the transfer market following Jeremie Frimpong’s suspected groin injury during Liverpool’s 6-0 thrashing of Qarabag. Frimpong, a £29m summer acquisition from Bayer Leverkusen, was forced off within the first five minutes, leaving the Reds’ defence particularly vulnerable at right-back as Conor Bradley is also sidelined for the season with a serious knee injury.

Midfielder Wataru Endo stepped in to replace Frimpong, but with Joe Gomez injured and Ibrahima Konate absent on compassionate grounds, Slot avoided discussing any potential signings ahead of next week’s transfer deadline. The Liverpool boss said: “We as a club always make decisions, as we at least make smart decisions. So we not only look at the short term, we also look at the long term. Longer term, that’s why we sign young players as well.”

He added: “(We sign) very good players, but young ones that can still develop. Now we can see the development with a few. And it always depends on, are there players available that we think can help us? And if there are, can we afford them? And does this also be helpful for the longer term future, because our players come back from injury as well.

“I just said that we don’t have a squad where we have four right-backs and 12 midfielders and three or four No.9s. That’s not how it works over here. So we have to do smart things for the near future, but also for the longer future. Let’s first see how Jeremie is.

“Maybe he’s not able to play Saturday, but maybe he’s able to play one or two days later. We’re now going to a schedule with one game a week. So that would usually mean fewer injuries. But you’re never sure.”

Slot continued: “It’s clear that if a player goes out like that, you don’t expect them to play Saturday against Newcastle (United). Maybe I can come back to something I said yesterday, when I said that it might, might, might.

“I think they used the word might, but apparently not everyone is listening very properly to what I say.”