Slot confirms double injury blow for Liverpool after Frankfurt thrashing

Liverpool boss Arne Slot has confirmed injuries were suffered by two of his stars, Alexander Isak and Jeremie Frimpong, during their 5-1 win over Eintracht Frankfurt.

After four successive defeats, the Reds recorded a much-needed victory in the Champions League, but it did not come without casualties. Frimpong limped off after just 19 minutes and fellow summer signing Isak was withdrawn at half-time. It was not clear why the Swedish striker was taken off, but Slot has confirmed it was a forced substitution

“He had to go off at half-time because he felt his groin a little bit,” the Liverpool manager explained. “We’ve said many times that it’s such a difficult balance to find with a player who was out for three months.

“You bring him slowly, people argue if you can or can’t play him more, and now we’ve played him for the second time in three days and he had to go off. So let’s hope for the best.

“It’s not an easy balance to find.”

Isak was signed for a British record transfer fee, but has been hindered by fitness troubles since arriving at Anfield. The forward’s minutes have been managed carefully since he made the switch from Newcastle.

Slot continued: “I don’t think there is a rule. We were careful of him, Sweden too, we told them he is ready to play twice.

“It is a thin balance if you miss pre-season. Some march through it, some get injured again.”

The Dutch coach is hopeful that the injury will not keep his new number nine sidelined for long. “Alex was well prepared to play but the margins are small, I am hoping this is not this bad,” he said. “If he would be out for a few weeks that would throw him back.”

The same optimism is not shared with Frimpong’s injury. Slot simply stated: “Jeremie is a hamstring issue. He had to go off.”