Liverpool aren’t without their injury problems during a busy period, and now a double update on Jeremie Frimpong and Dominik Szoboszlai has emerged.

The Reds host their Spanish opponents in the Champions League on Tuesday evening, as they look to keep up their 100% winning record in the competition this season.

Matches are coming thick and fast for Liverpool currently, and it is testing the squad depth to the limit, especially with Conor Bradley, Giovanni Leoni and Hugo Ekitike all still out with long-term issues.

Frimpong and Szoboszlai both limped out of last weekend’s 2-1 win away to Brentford in the Premier League, and speaking to the media ahead of the Villarreal, Andoni Iraola provided a fairly negative update on the pair:

“Jeremie Frimpong is obviously a new muscle injury and it happened, I think, in the second or third minute he was playing, difficult to predict and we will have to wait until he recovers. But it’s going to be difficult, I think, before the [November international] break. We will try but it’s going to be difficult to have him.

“Dom Szoboszlai is different. It’s not a new injury, I think it’s in the same place it was probably last week. He hasn’t worsened the injury but probably we have to be a little bit more patient until he recovers fully. But it’s not like something now where he has to wait a lot of time to come back, he is more or less in the same situation he was last week.

“But we need more patience with him, but I appreciate the effort he did the other day, to be available, to want to contribute in a very difficult game that you know is going to be very physical – [against] one of the most physical teams, Brentford. And to put himself in front and to want to play speaks very well about him, yes.”

What should Liverpool’s XI be vs. Villarreal?

Iraola has big decisions to make against Villarreal at Anfield, with certain players in need of a rest, especially ahead of a tough league clash at home to in-form Brighton on Sunday.

Jeremy Jacquet could arguably do with a breather, despite his superb form, with Joe Gomez then a good option to bring in alongside Virgil van Dijk.

In midfield, similar applies Alexis Mac Allister, who has been so much improved this season but can’t afford to be overplayed, and Ryan Gravenberch is a natural starter after being suspended for the Brentford game.

The Dutchman could be partnered by Trey Nyoni in the double pivot, with Florian Wirtz continuing in the No.10, even though his minutes have to be managed carefully.

It remains to be seen if Cody Gakpo is ready to start, but Rio Ngumoha’s impact at Brentford may earn him a place in the starting XI, but Victor Munoz is equally impressive at the moment.

It feels like a toss-up between the two on the right wing, with Bradley Barcola and Alexander Isak also starting, unless Iraola wants to wrap them in cotton wool for Brighton.