Jeremie Frimpong injury blow hits Liverpool before Man City clash

The full-back was forced off after 60 minutes during the Netherlands' 1-1 friendly draw with Ecuador on Tuesday night, adding to Arne Slot's growing list of concerns ahead of Saturday's tie at the Etihad Stadium.

Netherlands manager Ronald Koeman admitted the substitution was not planned. "That was a real setback - we had to take him off," he said after the match, with the severity of the injury still unclear.

Slot is now facing the possibility of being without several key players for one of Liverpool's biggest matches of the season. The club are already dealing with multiple absences across the squad.

Conor Bradley has been ruled out for the rest of the campaign, while Wataru Endo is expected to miss a significant period following his injury in February. Giovanni Leoni is also unlikely to feature again this season after suffering an ACL injury, and Stefan Bajcetic is only just returning from a long-term problem.

There are also doubts over Mohamed Salah's fitness, while Alisson Becker recently missed the defeat to Brighton. Hugo Ekitike was forced off early in that match, and Federico Chiesa withdrew from international duty, raising further concerns.

Manchester City, meanwhile, come into the game in strong form after winning the Carabao Cup, beating Arsenal 2-0 at Wembley thanks to a brace from Nico O'Reilly. Pep Guardiola's side are also chasing the Premier League title and see the FA Cup as another major opportunity for silverware.

City have their own injury issues, with John Stones returning early from England duty due to a calf problem, and Josko Gvardiol still sidelined with a leg injury. Mateo Kovacic is, however, close to a return, and the rest of the squad is largely fit.

With a place at Wembley on the line, both sides head into the weekend with high stakes. For Liverpool, the FA Cup represents a chance to salvage their season and push for silverware, while City are aiming to build momentum during a crucial run of fixtures that could define their campaign.