‘It’s possible…’ Slot gives cautious update on Ekitike before Arsenal visit
Hugo Ekitike was a notable late absentee from Liverpool’s 2–2 draw with Fulham on Sunday after being sidelined by a minor hamstring issue.
It marked just the third match of the campaign in which the 23-year-old has failed to feature, with Arne Slot pointing to the forward’s demanding minutes as a contributing factor. Liverpool’s ability to rotate has been limited this season, particularly following the long-term absence of Alexander Isak, which has increased Ekitike’s workload.
With the Reds set to visit Premier League leaders Arsenal on Thursday, time is against the striker as he races to prove his fitness. Supporters now face an anxious wait to see whether the club’s leading scorer this season will be ready for the high-stakes trip to the Emirates.
Slot unsure over Ekitike availability
Speaking after the Fulham fixture, Slot stopped short of confirming whether Ekitike would be fit in time to face the Gunners, suggesting the short turnaround could be problematic.
When asked by beIN SPORTS about the Frenchman’s chances of featuring, the Liverpool head coach said it was uncertain, noting that the fine margins involved make it difficult to judge whether a player who misses one match can realistically return within four days.
Liverpool hoping for timely boost
A clearer picture is expected during Slot’s pre-match press conference on Wednesday, though his initial comments hinted that Ekitike may struggle to recover in time — a significant concern for the defending champions in what has already been a challenging season.
There was at least some encouragement in Cody Gakpo’s availability against Fulham, with the Dutchman deputising at centre-forward and getting on the scoresheet. However, Liverpool will need their strongest possible XI for the daunting task of facing an Arsenal side that has recently increased its lead at the top of the table.
Slot had limited attacking options on the bench at Craven Cottage, with Federico Chiesa the only senior forward available and rarely trusted to start. That lack of depth stood in contrast to Mikel Arteta’s ability to introduce the likes of Bukayo Saka, Leandro Trossard, and Gabriel Jesus during Arsenal’s win over Bournemouth.
Should Ekitike be deemed fit to start on Thursday, Slot could then manage his minutes by resting him for Monday’s FA Cup tie against Barnsley, allowing the striker time to fully recover ahead of a packed run of fixtures later in January.
Liverpool will be hoping the 23-year-old can make the trip to north London, as they’ll need every ounce of attacking quality available if they are to extend their unbeaten run to ten matches.
