Liverpool pays a heavy price after advancing past the Champions League group stage

Liverpool is going through one of the most challenging phases regarding player availability this season, with their recent Champions League win against Qarabag exacting a steep toll.

Most recently, Jeremie Frimpong was forced to leave the field just 4 minutes into the match during Liverpool's dominant win over Qarabag in the final qualifying round of the Champions League, which has only heightened the concerns of The Kop supporters.

The match at Anfield was expected to relieve some pressure for Liverpool, but tensions quickly rose when Frimpong went down after sprinting to chase the ball. The Dutch fullback immediately clutched his face in pain, showing clear signs of a hamstring injury, a problem that has haunted him multiple times this season.

Initial confirmation indicates this is the third time Frimpong has suffered hamstring issues within a single season, raising serious questions about the 25-year-old's fitness and endurance. Midfielder Dominik Szoboszlai quickly recognized the severity of the situation and signaled to the coaching staff. Without hesitation, coach Arne Slot had to bring Wataru Endo on to replace the Dutch defender.

Frimpong’s injury further complicates Liverpool’s defensive personnel challenges. Previously, Joe Gomez and Ibrahima Konate were both recovering and unavailable. With Conor Bradley also absent, Ryan Gravenberch was reluctantly pushed back to play as a center-back alongside Virgil van Dijk — an emergency solution carrying considerable risk.

Although coach Arne Slot confirmed Gomez and Konate will return soon, the continuous loss of defenders clearly disrupts Liverpool’s rotation plans and tactics, especially as the team prepares to enter the Champions League knockout stages and faces a fierce competition in the Premier League.

Nevertheless, the biggest positive for Liverpool is the team's strong fighting spirit. Despite losing Frimpong early, The Reds dominated the match and crushed Qarabag 6-0, officially securing their place in the Champions League round of 16 by finishing third in the qualifying round.