Liverpool's injury problems deepened on Wednesday, with Jeremie Frimpong adding to Arne Slot's worries in defense after limping off just minutes into the win over Qarabag

James Findlater Content Editor

09:46, 29 Jan 2026

Jeremie Frimpong was forced off during Liverpool's win over Qarabag(Image: Getty Images)

Liverpool has secured its safe passage through to the last-16 in the Champions League - although the club’s injury crisis has deepened after Wednesday’s win over Qarabag.

There were plenty of positives to take during the 6-0 win at Anfield, including a first Liverpool goal in nearly three months for Mohamed Salah, but Jeremie Frimpong’s early withdrawal did put a dampener on proceedings.

The 25-year-old’s injury adds to the Reds’ woes at the moment, with Arne Slot having already been forced to play Ryan Gravenberch alongside Virgil van Dijk at the heart of the defense - although the Liverpool boss has indicated that Ibrahima Konate could return from compassionate leave soon.

READ MORE: Mohamed Salah makes Liverpool feelings clear immediately after ending goal droughtREAD MORE: 'I'll be back' - Trent Alexander-Arnold has already confirmed Liverpool return plan

Things don’t look too promising on the injury front at the moment though. Here is the latest ahead of Saturday's Premier League clash with Newcastle...

Jeremie Frimpong

Liverpool faces a nervous wait to find out the full extent of Frimpong's injury after the Netherlands international was forced off just three minutes into Wednesday's game against Qarabag.

Frimpong appeared to be holding his hamstring as he went down, which isn't too promising a sign. He missed around two months of action earlier in the season with the same sort of injury.

"It's a muscle injury, but I don't know how long that is going to be," Slot said after the game. "It's a muscle so it's not a knee [injury] and a muscle usually has to do with overloading a player. Not always, of course, because he stretched in the moment, but it is the risk."

Possible return date: Unknown

Joe Gomez

Slot is hopeful that he will have Joe Gomez back soon after his injury at Bournemouth, although the Liverpool boss has admitted it will be "tight" as to whether he will be back in time to face Newcastle this weekend.

Joe Gomez makes his way off the pitch after picking up an injury in Liverpool's game against Bournemouth(Image: Getty Images)

The defender collided with Alisson Becker during the weekend defeat to the Cherries, and was unable to continue, although Slot has since played down the severity of the injury.

"Joe might be tight," Slot said on Wednesday when asked whether Gomez could return against Newcastle. "[I am] hoping and expecting to have Ibou [Konate] but I cannot guarantee this yet, but we are hoping Ibou will be back with us. Joe will be tight."

Possible return date: January 31 vs Newcastle

Curtis Jones

It was illness rather than injury that forced Curtis Jones out of Wednesday's win over Qarabag. The midfielder should therefore hopefully be back in action soon.

"Curtis was sick, so we have to wait and see how it evolves," Slot said after the game.

Possible return date: January 31 vs Newcastle

Alexander Isak

Alexander Isak is still expected to return before the end of the season, although the striker still faces a lengthy spell on the sidelines after breaking his leg against Tottenham last month.

The striker had to undergo surgery on a fractured fibula following Micky van de Ven's challenge, meaning he is likely to be out for another month or two at this stage.

Possible return date: April/May

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Conor Bradley

We won't be seeing Conor Bradley in a Liverpool shirt again this season, with the right-back having been ruled out for the remainder of the campaign following his knee injury at Arsenal.

Having undergone surgery soon after, the Northern Ireland international faces a race against time to be fit for the World Cup, should his country make it through the play-offs in March.

Possible return date: 2026/27 season

Giovanni Leoni

Giovanni Leoni has been spotted in some recent videos from Liverpool's training ground, although fans shouldn't get their hopes up about seeing him back before the end of the season.

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The young defender is still expected to miss the rest of the campaign following his ACL injury, and will need to complete an extensive rehab programme before a return can be considered.

Possible return date: 2026/27 season

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Virgil van Dijk was a serious attacking threat during Liverpool's victory over Qarabag in the Champions League on Wednesday night, assisting goals for three of his teammates

Liverpool.com

09:40, 29 Jan 2026

Virgil van Dijk during Liverpool's win over Qarabag(Image: 2026 Ben Roberts - Danehouse)

Virgil van Dijk became the first central defender in Champions League history to register three assists in a single game during Liverpool's win over Qarabag on Wednesday.

Van Dijk assisted Alexis Mac Allister, Hugo Ekitike and Federico Chiesa as the Reds romped to a 6-0 win at Anfield. The Dutchman's first assist came as his header from a corner was converted by Mac Allister, before Ekitike latched onto a clearance by the Liverpool captain and went on to score.

Van Dijk's final assist of the game came during the final few minutes, as he slid Chiesa in to score Liverpool's sixth goal of the game.

READ MORE: Arne Slot issues furious response as Liverpool boss faces backlash after PSG claimREAD MORE: Arne Slot reveals Liverpool transfer stance on defenders after Jeremie Frimpong injury

The victory secured Liverpool a third-place finish in the Champions League league phase, and ensured the Reds will play the second leg of their last-16 tie at home.

Speaking in a post-game press conference, Arne Slot talked up the importance of Liverpool securing the win it needed to avoid a two-legged play-off to make it into the competition's knockout phase.

"It's what you want if you start the Champions League season – you want to finish top eight," Slot said. "Tha t helps, of course, because you skip a round and sometimes you can have a really hard team to play against in a round like that.

"So, we are happy that we are going straight away to the last 16, especially because it's only two years ago that we were playing Europa League and we went out in the quarter-finals against Atalanta. So, two seasons in a row now being in the last 16, and last season we were very hungry for more and we will definitely be hungry for more this season as well."

It wasn't a perfect night for Liverpool, as Jeremie Frimpong was forced off with an injury, but Arne Slot played down the idea of the Reds dipping into the transfer market in the final few days of the window to deal with the squad's fitness issues.

“As a club, we always make decisions - what we think are smart decisions - not only in the short term but the long term, which is why we sign younger players," Slot said.

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“It always depends on whether there are players available that we think can help us. If there are, can we afford them?

“And is this also 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.”

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Xabi Alonso has been linked with a return to Liverpool as Arne Slot continues to come under pressure at Anfield, and one of his former teammates has given him his backing

James Findlater Content Editor

09:33, 29 Jan 2026

Xabi Alonso has been linked with a return to Liverpool after being fired by Real Madrid(Image: Getty Images)

Xabi Alonso’s former teammate Javi Martinez has made the case for him to take over from Arne Slot at Liverpool.

Having been fired by Real Madrid earlier this month, Alonso has seen his name being linked with a return to Anfield as Slot continues to come under pressure.

Although Liverpool secured its safe passage through to the last-16 of the Champions League with a resounding 6-0 win over Qarabag on Wednesday, the Reds’ poor Premier League form has seen the heat being turned up on Slot, with their hopes of defending last season’s title already long gone and a top four spot far from assured.

READ MORE: Mohamed Salah makes Liverpool feelings clear immediately after ending goal droughtREAD MORE: 'I'll be back' - Trent Alexander-Arnold has already confirmed Liverpool return plan

With just five wins from his last 18 league games in charge, Slot is coming under pressure from some supporters - and he hasn’t helped himself with some of his recent comments either.

As such, speculation has been growing that Alonso could take over from him soon, and Martinez - who played alongside him for Bayern Munich and Spain - has given his former teammate his backing.

“It’s normal that some names come on the table,” Martinez told beIN Sports. “I heard also about Xabi Alonso, not from him - I’m not saying anything!”

Xabi Alonso has been tipped to replace Arne Slot at Liverpool(Image: Getty Images)

Asked whether he thinks Alonso would be a good fit at Liverpool, Martinez responded: “Yeah I think so. I think the team and Liverpool needs a change.

“Xabi Alonso is a young coach, he brings a lot of new things. It’s like the ‘Pep school’, how he likes to play, the way the Cesc Fabregas, Pep [Guardiola], this new school.

“I think it would be a perfect match in Xabi Alonso and Liverpool.”

Despite being fired by Real after less than eight months in charge, Alonso’s reputation doesn’t seem to have been damaged too much.

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The 44-year-old was dismissed following defeat to Barcelona in the Spanish Super Cup final, although his exit had been on the cards for a while amid growing tensions with some members of his squad.

“Yeah, I don’t know what happened,” Martinez said on Alonso’s time at the Bernabeu. “I didn’t speak to him, I sent a message but he didn’t answer!

“It was sure that he would be a success at Real Madrid, [but] Real Madrid is a special club. I’m sure if you bring Pep Guardiola in, he would not be successful.

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“I think, for example, we saw with [Jose] Mourinho, he managed much better with the club, [Carlo] Ancelotti for example. I think they play better when the coach gives more freedom.”

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