Iraola calms: Frimpong not injured
Liverpool boss confident the 25-year-old defender is not seriously hurt despite being substituted, and calls the Leeds defeat the most useful preseason match.
Liverpool boss confident the 25-year-old defender is not seriously hurt despite being substituted, and calls the Leeds defeat the most useful preseason match.
Liverpool manager Andoni Iraola has reassured Reds fans after defender Jeremie Frimpong asked to be substituted during the friendly against Leeds United in Chicago. Although the 25-year-old left the pitch in the second half, the Spanish coach does not believe it is an injury.
"Jeremie asked to come off, but I don't think it's an injury. It was just overload, and I hope he's not injured in that way. I don't think we lost anyone," Iraola told Liverpool's media after the match. This news comes as a relief given that the club is already dealing with several squad issues ahead of the new Premier League season.
Liverpool lost 4-2 in Chicago, and the already weakened squad is missing Joe Gomez, Conor Bradley, Hugo Ekitike, and Giovanni Leoni, who are recovering from injuries. Gomez is expected to miss the start of the season due to a muscle injury sustained in the win over Sunderland.
Despite the disappointing result, Iraola highlighted that this match provided the most useful information. "Obviously it's not the result you want, but I think this was probably the most useful friendly we've played, in a positive sense in the first half and in a negative sense in the second," said Iraola. "We learned a lot today, and I think we can draw good conclusions and fix some things."
The Spaniard, who took over at Liverpool in June following the departure of former boss Arne Slot, concluded the American tour with this match. The Reds' first official game of the new Premier League season is scheduled for August 23, when they travel to Newcastle United.
