Liverpool handed Jeremie Frimpong injury blow ahead of FA Cup quarter-final against Manchester City | OneFootball

Liverpool defender Jeremie Frimpong was taken off in Netherlands’ 1-1 friendly draw with Ecuador on Tuesday night.

The Reds are set to take on Manchester City in the FA Cup quarter-final on Saturday upon the return of club action after the ongoing international break.

City recently tasted their first piece of silverware in two seasons by defeating Arsenal in the Carabao Cup final at Wembley, with Nico O’Reilly netting a brace in a 2-0 win for the Blues.

Pep Guardiola and co are still chasing Arsenal in the Premier League title race and can build on their recent Wembley heroics by setting up another visit to the English capital if they can see off Liverpool this weekend.

Man City vs Liverpool: Injury Situation

Manchester City saw John Stones return to the north-west over the weekend after the 31-year-old – whose contract is expiring in June – suffered a calf injury with England last week.

Mateo Kovacic is nearing a return to action for the Blues, with Josko Gvardiol still on the sidelines as he recovers from a tibial fracture on his right leg he sustained in January. Elsewhere, the Blues have a fully fit squad.

Liverpool are hoping that Mohamed Salah can be fit to feature at the Etihad Stadium. Alisson Becker missed Liverpool’s recent Premier League defeat to Brighton and Hove Albion, with Hugo Ekitike also going off after nine minutes at the Amex Stadium. Federico Chiesa also withdrew from international duty with Italy.

Conor Bradley is ruled out for the rest of the season; Wataru Endo is facing a lengthy lay-off after an injury in mid-February; Giovanni Leoni is not expected to play again this season after an ACL rupture; Stefan Bajcetic is making his way back from a long-term injury.

Frimpong adds to Slot’s fitness woes

Liverpool manager Arne Slot has been handed yet another worrying selection headache after full-back Jeremie Frimpong was taken off after 60 minutes in Netherlands’s 1-1 friendly draw with Ecuador on Tuesday night.

Netherlands manager Ronald Koeman addressed the change after the draw. “That was a real setback – we had to take him off,” Koeman said on Frimpong’s injury, the nature and full extent of which remain unknown but could become more clear when Slot previews the FA Cup quarter-final in Friday’s press conference.

The Premier League champions are fighting for a top five league finish this season to secure UEFA Champions League qualification for next season, currently sitting in fifth place in the table – one point ahead of fellow Europe hopefuls Chelsea.

Guardiola will also face the press on Friday afternoon to provide a comprehensive fitness update on his squad ahead of a monumental run of games against Liverpool (FA Cup), Chelsea (Premier League) and Arsenal (Premier League) in the next three weeks.