Liverpool’s comeback victory at Brentford came at a cost. The 2-1 win offered Andoni Iraola three valuable points, but the injuries suffered by Dominik Szoboszlai and Jeremie Frimpong have complicated his plans ahead of Tuesday’s Champions League meeting with Villarreal.

Szoboszlai was forced off after 32 minutes, having missed Liverpool’s previous two matches with a hamstring problem. Frimpong came on at half-time but lasted only a few minutes before being replaced, with Víctor Muñoz subsequently operating at right-back.

Iraola confirmed after the match that both players would be unavailable for “some time”. More concerningly, he acknowledged that Szoboszlai’s original injury had probably not healed sufficiently before the midfielder returned to the starting line-up.

“They were different cases,” Iraola said. “Dom felt the same injury, it’s not a new injury and was probably not healed enough, so we will need more time with him.”

Frimpong’s problem was different. The manager said the Dutchman had cramped during the Champions League victory over LASK, but was selected at Brentford because Liverpool needed greater attacking threat against ten men.

The decision did not work out as planned. Frimpong was forced off, and Liverpool had to find another solution during a match that was already demanding considerable adaptation.

The result was a reminder that squad management is not simply about choosing the strongest available starting XI. It is about weighing the benefits of returning players against the risk of asking them to perform before they are fully ready — a calculation that becomes more difficult when matches arrive in quick succession.

Liverpool’s schedule has left little room for recovery. They travelled to Austria for their Champions League match against LASK before returning to domestic action at Brentford, and Villarreal now visit Anfield on Tuesday.

Iraola pointed to the short turnaround after the European fixture when explaining the situation. Liverpool returned late and, in his assessment, did not have proper recovery time. He described the dilemma of choosing between players who had already played twice and were tired, and those returning from injury who were not necessarily at full fitness.

That explanation does not establish that the schedule caused either injury. Szoboszlai’s problem was a recurrence of an existing issue, while Frimpong’s was separate. But it illustrates the challenge facing a manager trying to maintain intensity while protecting players through a crowded calendar.

There is no simple solution. Resting players can reduce the immediate physical demands on them, but it also means changing a side that needs continuity. Bringing them back too early can create a different problem, particularly when the original injury has not fully resolved.

Szoboszlai’s return against Brentford now looks especially significant in that context. He had missed two games, started on Saturday and was forced off before half-time. Iraola’s own assessment that the injury was probably not healed enough raises an obvious question about how Liverpool manage his rehabilitation from here.

The priority must be to ensure that his next return is based on his fitness rather than the demands of the fixture list.

Szoboszlai’s absence is a tactical problem as well as a selection issue. His value to Liverpool lies not only in his work on the ball, but in the energy he brings to pressing, his ability to carry possession forward and the ground he covers between the penalty areas.

Those qualities help Liverpool sustain pressure and recover possession when attacks break down. Replacing him with a player who offers a different profile may require adjustments to the roles around him, particularly if Iraola wants the team to maintain its intensity without becoming vulnerable in transition.

Liverpool have other midfield options, but the question is how best to distribute the responsibilities Szoboszlai normally carries. One player may provide greater control in possession; another may offer more defensive security. Neither necessarily replicates the Hungarian’s combination of running power and attacking contribution.

The solution could depend on the opponent. Against Villarreal, Liverpool will need to balance their desire to attack at Anfield with the need to avoid giving the visitors space to counter. The absence of Szoboszlai makes that balance harder to achieve, especially if Liverpool cannot press as aggressively or recover their shape as quickly.

There is also a longer-term consideration. If his absence extends across several matches, Liverpool will need to find a sustainable way to function without one of their most energetic midfielders, rather than relying on a temporary adjustment that leaves other players carrying an excessive workload.

Frimpong offers a different challenge. His pace and attacking instincts can give Liverpool a way to stretch opponents from right-back, creating width and threatening space beyond the opposition’s defensive line.

His introduction at Brentford was intended to exploit the numerical advantage Liverpool had gained following Yarmoliuk’s dismissal. Instead, his early withdrawal forced Iraola to adapt again, with Muñoz moving into the right-back role.

Muñoz performed well in unfamiliar circumstances, but it would be premature to assume that he is a like-for-like replacement for Frimpong. Their strengths differ, and the choice of right-back influences how Liverpool build attacks, how high the full-back can advance and how the team protects itself when possession is lost.

A more conservative option might provide defensive stability, while a more attacking choice could help Liverpool stretch a compact opponent. Iraola will have to decide which qualities matter most in each game, with Frimpong’s availability now uncertain.

The issue is particularly relevant against teams willing to defend deep. Liverpool need width and one-versus-one threat to open up space centrally, but they also need to guard against counter-attacks when their full-backs advance. Frimpong’s absence removes one of the options that can help them achieve both objectives.

Villarreal visit Anfield on Tuesday, Brighton follow in the Premier League on Sunday, and Chelsea arrive for the Carabao Cup on October 28. That sequence gives Liverpool little time to settle into a new configuration.

The immediate focus will be on who starts against Villarreal, but the more important question is whether Iraola can distribute minutes and responsibilities without creating further physical problems. The answer may involve rotating more heavily, changing the balance of midfield or asking other players to take on different roles.

Liverpool’s comeback at Brentford demonstrated that the squad has players capable of changing a game. Muñoz scored the equaliser and then deputised at right-back, while Rio Ngumoha provided directness from the bench. Those contributions are useful evidence of depth, but they do not remove the need to manage the next few weeks carefully.

A strong squad is not simply one with several options in each position. It is one whose manager can use those options without compromising the balance of the team or asking returning players to take unnecessary risks.

The club will need to provide further clarity on the likely duration of both absences as their recovery progresses. Until then, it would be unwise to put precise return dates on either player.

The danger for Liverpool is that the demands of the schedule turn two injuries into a wider selection problem. Szoboszlai’s recurrence is an immediate concern because he had already missed matches with the same issue. Frimpong’s situation is different, but his withdrawal adds another uncertainty to an already busy period.

Iraola’s comments underline the difficult decisions that modern fixture congestion creates. Managers are expected to field competitive teams every few days, yet the physical condition of individual players does not always align neatly with that timetable.

Liverpool must find a way to remain competitive without treating availability as the same thing as readiness. A player can be close enough to return to the squad without being prepared to withstand the demands of a full match. Szoboszlai’s experience at Brentford is a reminder of that distinction.

The victory remains valuable, and the performances of Muñoz and Ngumoha give Iraola reasons for encouragement. But Liverpool’s immediate task is to make sure the response to Brentford is not defined by further injuries.

The next few fixtures will test the squad’s depth and the manager’s adaptability. More than that, they will test Liverpool’s ability to manage the difference between needing a player and having a player ready to play.