Arne Slot might be forced into Newcastle gamble after Liverpool injury blow

Below is a summary of the full article. Click here for the full version or go back to LFC Live.net.

Dominik Szoboszlai started for Liverpool against Bournemouth(Image: Getty Images)

Liverpool have something of a dilemma at right-back for Monday night's trip to Newcastle United.

Jeremie Frimpong is set to be sidelined until the other side of the international break and Conor Bradley is still on the comeback trail himself having only returned to training himself this week.

Joe Gomez has made one Premier League appearance since December, which came as a substitute in Friday night's 4-2 win over Bournemouth, while Wataru Endo has also featured in the position.

It leaves Slot with a genuine selection dilemma ahead of what is expected to be white-hot atmosphere at St James' Park on Monday evening.

Here, the ECHO's dedicated Liverpool writers weigh up the merits of those who might start on Tyneside.

How loudly the alarm bells are ringing after speed merchant Jeremie Frimpong suffered a hamstring injury so early into his Premier League debut depends on your general outlook, one supposes.

But after seeing the Netherlands withdrawn on Friday against Bournemouth on the advice of the club's medical staff, it must be slightly concerning for Arne Slot as he gets set for a spell on the sidelines now.

Who plays in his absence then?

Two years ago, Jarell Quansah was pressed into his senior debut late on after Virgil van Dijk had earlier been sent off, while last season Quansah started at right-back with Joe Gomez needed at centre-back, Trent Alexander-Arnold not quite fit enough for 90 minutes and Conor Bradley injured.

This time around, with Alexander-Arnold and Quansah - who also started the League Cup final against Newcastle at right-back - both gone, it's Jeremie Frimpong out and neither Bradley nor Gomez at 100%.

Curtis Jones featured at right-back earlier in the year for a short period, while Dominik Szoboszlai did a job at times during pre-season.

With Jeremie Frimpong now ruled out until after the international break, Arne Slot faces an unwanted headache.

Conor Bradley might have returned to training at the back-end of last week but he hasn’t played since the Reds’ tour of Asia.

Liverpool will be without Frimpong for more than one game, after all.

Joe Gomez returned from a minor Achilles injury to make his own comeback against Bournemouth in the Reds’ season opener, but that is only his second competitive outing of the calendar year.

And at least starting him at right-back counters the dilemma of who to drop from midfield in order to start the returning Ryan Gravenberch.

Get through an hour with Szoboszlai at right-back before moving him into midfield and bringing on Gomez or Bradley to hopefully see the game out.