Liverpool have started their Premier League campaign in a way that is giving fans a mixture of joy and relief. Unlike in some previous seasons when injuries seemed to come like a curse, Arne Slot’s squad has so far been blessed with a near spotless bill of health. Only two names remain on the injury list as things stand, and those names are Jeremie Frimpong and Alexis Mac Allister. For a club like Liverpool that is chasing glory on every front, this is very good news. Because while injuries cannot be totally avoided in football, the difference between winning titles and falling short often comes down to how well a team keeps its best players fit when the season is young.
The dramatic 3-2 victory over Newcastle at St James’ Park reminded everyone of what Liverpool can be when the full squad is close to being available. The energy, the intensity, the never-say-die mentality were all there again. Even more satisfying for fans was that after such a tough game with so much running, no new names were added to the injury table. And when you compare Liverpool’s condition to Newcastle’s, the contrast becomes even clearer. While Slot’s men left the pitch smiling and preparing for the next big game, Newcastle saw Fabian Schar, Sandro Tonali, and Joelinton all forced off with injuries. For Eddie Howe and his side, it was a nightmare. For Liverpool, it was a night of survival and celebration.
Still, Liverpool are not totally free. The absence of Frimpong and Mac Allister remains a talking point because both players are considered key to what Slot wants to build. Frimpong, who arrived from Bayer Leverkusen with so much excitement, looked like he was going to hit the ground running and become a fan favourite very quickly. His energy, his speed, his fearless style of bombing down the right-hand side already had supporters dreaming of him becoming the next great full-back to thrill the Kop. But football can be cruel. Against Bournemouth, after sprinting back and forth to defend against Antoine Semenyo’s pace, Frimpong felt his hamstring at half-time. Slot later explained that he had made too many sprints in that first half, and it was not a luxury substitution but a necessary one. The player was in pain and had to be withdrawn.
Since then, the news has been cautious but not alarming. Slot revealed that the injury was not severe, but Liverpool would not take any risks. Hamstring issues can become dangerous if a player comes back too soon. The club decided he would not feature until after the September international break. That means Frimpong will miss a few more games, but he is expected to return around September 14 when Liverpool travel to face Burnley away from home. For fans, that is still bearable. What they did not want was another long-term problem. And for now, the signs suggest that Frimpong will be back running and smiling sooner rather than later.
The other concern is Alexis Mac Allister. The Argentine midfielder, who has already shown his class since arriving from Brighton, has had a tricky relationship with injuries in recent months. He missed much of pre-season because of an issue carried over from the end of last campaign. That already left him playing catch-up when the season began. Even though he featured against Bournemouth in the opening week, his absence against Newcastle came as a surprise. Many fans expected him to start or at least be on the bench, but he was nowhere to be found. The reason, as Slot explained, was another small injury picked up in training.
Slot was very open about his decision. He explained that it was not just about the injury itself but about the bigger picture. Mac Allister had already missed weeks of pre-season, which is the period when players build their base fitness for the whole year. Slot said that in matches of very high intensity, like the one against Newcastle, you cannot take risks on players who have not had that base fitness. Even if the injury is minor, the risk of something worse happening is high. So the manager chose to leave him out completely rather than push him and regret it later. His hope is that Mac Allister can recover in time to feature against Arsenal on August 31. That is another huge fixture, and having the Argentine available will give Liverpool more creativity and control in midfield.
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For Slot, this balancing act is part of the job. He has inherited a team that is hungry and ambitious, but also one that has had painful memories with injuries in the past. Under Jurgen Klopp, Liverpool often suffered from losing too many players at the wrong time, especially in defence. Those experiences still haunt the fanbase. That is why every update about injuries feels so important. Slot seems determined not to repeat those mistakes. He prefers to play it safe with Frimpong and Mac Allister, knowing that the season is long and Liverpool will need everyone fit when the Champions League, Premier League, FA Cup, and League Cup all start overlapping.
What makes the story even more positive is that while two players are out, others are returning. Against Newcastle, both Joe Gomez and Conor Bradley were back in the squad. Neither was fit enough to start, but their names on the team sheet were already a relief. Bradley, the young full-back who impressed so much last season, came off the bench with ten minutes left, replacing Florian Wirtz. His energy helped Liverpool push until the very end. Gomez stayed on the bench, but Slot confirmed before kick-off that he was fit enough to play around 20 minutes if needed. These small details give Liverpool flexibility again. They show that the squad is not shrinking, but slowly growing back to full strength.
Injury updates are never just about the players who are missing. They are also about the mood in the camp, the trust between manager and medical team, and the ability to keep focus despite distractions. Right now, the mood at Liverpool feels positive. Slot’s words about Frimpong and Mac Allister show calmness and control. He is not panicking, not rushing anyone, and not hiding information from supporters. That transparency builds confidence. Fans feel they know what is happening, and that helps them stay patient.
At the same time, the situation is a reminder of how quickly things can change. Frimpong was supposed to be one of the exciting new faces making an immediate impact, and yet one small hamstring tweak forced him onto the sidelines. Mac Allister had just returned to action, and then training forced him out again. That is the unpredictable side of football. It shows why managers like Slot prepare squads with depth and why transfer decisions are made with long-term thinking.
The hope now is that by the time September comes, both players will be available. A full-strength Liverpool, with Frimpong flying down the wing and Mac Allister controlling the midfield, looks even more dangerous. And with the likes of Bradley and Gomez already returning, the squad is heading in the right direction.
For fans, these updates are more than just news. They are connected to dreams. They want to believe that this season, Liverpool can stay strong, avoid the injury crisis that has haunted them before, and fight all the way in every competition. They know injuries will always come, but the difference is how quickly players return and how well the squad absorbs the temporary losses. Right now, Liverpool seem to be winning that battle
Jeremie Frimpong is expected back against Burnley. Alexis Mac Allister could be back against Arsenal. Bradley and Gomez are already available. No new issues from the Newcastle game. When you put all of that together, the picture looks much brighter than many feared.
The season is still young, and many challenges lie ahead. But as long as the injury news remains like this—short absences, careful management, and quick returns—Liverpool will believe that this could be the season where health and momentum combine to create something truly special.
