“Possibly…” – Arne Slot drops a hint on Ekitike’s fitness ahead of Liverpool’s Arsenal showdow
Hugo Ekitike was a shock late withdrawal from Liverpool’s 2-2 draw with Fulham on Sunday after picking up a minor hamstring issue.
It marked just the third match all season that the 23-year-old has missed, with Arne Slot pointing to the striker’s heavy workload as the cause, especially with rotation options limited following Alexander Isak’s long-term injury setback.
With Liverpool set to visit Premier League leaders Arsenal on Thursday, time is not on their side. That has left Reds supporters anxiously waiting to discover whether their leading scorer this season will recover in time for the Emirates Stadium test.
Slot plays down certainty over Ekitike availability
Speaking after the Fulham game, Slot offered no guarantees over Ekitike’s chances of featuring against the Gunners, suggesting the short four-day turnaround may prove too tight.
Asked by beIN SPORTS if the French forward could be fit for Thursday, the Liverpool head coach said:
“Possibly. We’ll have to wait and see how he responds over the next few days. It’s always a fine line and a difficult balance. If a player isn’t available today, can he really be ready in four days?”
Liverpool hoping for positive news
Slot is expected to give a clearer update in his pre-match press conference on Wednesday, but his initial comments hinted that Ekitike may struggle to be ready in time — a potential blow for the reigning champions in what has already been a challenging campaign.
Cody Gakpo was able to lead the line against Fulham and even found the net, yet Liverpool will want their strongest possible attack for the daunting trip to face the league leaders, who have recently widened the gap on Manchester City.
At Craven Cottage, the Reds had just one senior attacking option on the bench in Federico Chiesa, who is rarely handed a start. In contrast, Mikel Arteta was able to call upon Bukayo Saka, Leandro Trossard and Gabriel Jesus from the bench against Bournemouth, without even needing to use Eberechi Eze.
Should Ekitike be cleared to start against Arsenal, Slot could then afford to rest him in the FA Cup tie against Barnsley next Monday, allowing the striker time to fully recharge ahead of a packed and demanding run of fixtures later in January.
Liverpool fans will be keeping everything crossed that the 23-year-old is declared fit for the Emirates clash — a game where the Reds will need every ounce of attacking firepower available if they are to stretch their unbeaten run to 10 matches. 🔴✨
