“Arne Slot Confirms Liverpool Setback: Key Player Missing Ahead of Newcastle Clash”

 

 

Liverpool will be missing two key defenders when Newcastle United visit Anfield tonight. Manager Arne Slot confirmed that both Jeremie Frimpong and Joe Gomez will be unavailable for the match.

Newcastle arrive at Anfield seeking their first league victory there since 1995. The Magpies’ last Premier League win at Liverpool came a year earlier, when Rob Lee and Andy Cole secured a 2-0 triumph. Over the decades, Newcastle have struggled at Anfield, with occasional bright moments quickly overshadowed by defeats. Recent examples include games in 2019, 2021, and 2022, where they initially led but ultimately lost.

Despite this, Newcastle may find some optimism in Liverpool’s own injury problems. Former Toon striker Alexander Isak is still out with a broken leg, and new signing Frimpong had to leave the pitch just three minutes into Liverpool’s Champions League win over Qarabag.

Ahead of the clash, Slot offered a detailed injury update: “Frimpong definitely won’t be in the squad tomorrow. He’ll be out for a few weeks, but it’s not as serious as we feared, which is a positive from a negative situation. Curtis Jones is available, but Joe Gomez won’t be—though it shouldn’t be much longer.”

On Isak’s recovery, Slot added: “He’s not on the pitch yet. He’s just come off his walker, which shows he’s not ready for action today or tomorrow. It’ll still be some time before he returns, as expected.”

Reflecting on the situation, Newcastle manager Eddie Howe commented on the past Isak saga: “We’ve moved on, and Liverpool have too. What happened then doesn’t matter now. Our focus is on making our squad as strong as possible in every transfer window. Football doesn’t allow you to dwell on the past; it’s always about preparing for the next challenge.”

He added: “There’s no ill will on our side. Since the summer, our focus has been on building our squad, looking after ourselves, and not worrying about other clubs. It was a new situation for us, perhaps a distraction as we tried to shape the squad and our playing style. It was a globally talked-about story, but ideally, it wouldn’t happen every summer.”