Liverpool star Jeremie Frimpong will be forced to sit in the stands alone to watch the Netherlands play Serbia tonight.
The 25-year-old is the only player on international duty with Oranje who has failed to make manager Xavi‘s 23-man squad for the Nations League clash.
He was on the bench for the Spaniard’s first match in charge against Germany on Thursday, a 1-1 draw, but has seemingly not done enough to retain his place as he is not in the official UEFA squad list.
Frimpong has been replaced in the squad by Arsenal right-back Jurrien Timber, who missed the Germany clash through injury.
He has been struggling to maintain consistent form at Liverpool, where he has played three of five Premier League games this season.
His exclusion from action will come as a blow but he still has time to redeem his international prospects this break with fixtures against Greece and Serbia again to follow.
Liverpool star Jeremie Frimpong will be in the stands tonight watching the Netherlands… as he is the only man on international duty not to make their squad
Since making his Netherlands debut in 2023, Frimpong has racked up a total of 15 appearances for his country.
However, he was excluded by Ronald Koeman for the summer’s World Cup after an unconvincing first campaign at Liverpool.
Liverpool activated his £29.5million release clause to prise him from Bayer Leverkusen, where he had won the Bundesliga title under Xabi Alonso, but a player valued for his attacking prowess posted no goals and only one assist in his debut Premier League campaign.
The Reds struggled to find balance under Arne Slot – often being exposed in wide areas when Frimpong and Milos Kerkez cantered forward without sufficient midfield cover – and Iraola is encountering a similar problem.
Frimpong is now locked in a battle at right-back with Ronald Araujo, the highly experienced loanee who has captained his parent club Barcelona.
His potential remains high, though. In the 2023-24 season, where Leverkusen almost won the domestic double and almost went invincible but for defeat in the Europa League final, the Dutchman contributed 14 goals and 10 assists in all competitions.
Taking over from Trent Alexander-Arnold was always going to be a tall order, but Frimpong arrived with the pedigree to do so.
