Liverpool players and staff may have offered a subtle clue over whether Ekitike is set to feature against Arsenal

Liverpool supporters will be hoping Hugo Ekitike is passed fit in time for Thursday night’s vital Premier League clash against Arsenal.

The Reds’ leading scorer this season was absent from last weekend’s 2-2 draw with Fulham after picking up a minor hamstring issue, and Arne Slot has so far avoided giving a clear indication on whether the 23-year-old will be ready for the trip to the Emirates.

A more definitive update is expected during the head coach’s pre-match press conference on Wednesday morning, but ahead of that, a few Anfield staff members — along with one of Ekitike’s teammates — may have offered subtle clues of their own.

Ekitike removed from FPL teams by Liverpool insiders
The FPL Focal website tracks Fantasy Premier League teams belonging to professional players and staff across the top flight, including several individuals currently working at Liverpool.

Notably, the platform shows that Conor Bradley, head of rehab physiotherapy Lee Nobes, and Neil Jones have all removed Ekitike from their FPL line-ups ahead of the Arsenal fixture.

Coincidence or cause for concern?
While the triple omission could simply be coincidence, the timing — coming just days after Ekitike missed the Fulham match — is likely to fuel further doubts about his availability on Thursday.

In particular, the decision by a senior member of Liverpool’s medical staff to drop the striker from his fantasy team may be interpreted as a subtle sign that Ekitike is more likely to miss out than feature at the Emirates. That would represent a significant setback for the Reds as they attempt to stop the league leaders.

That said, fantasy football selections are hardly a reliable indicator of a player’s medical status, and Slot is expected to offer a clearer and more authoritative update when he addresses the media later today.

For now, Liverpool fans will keep their fingers crossed for positive news on Ekitike — especially with Alexander Isak ruled out for the foreseeable future — even if some at the club have already been ruthless in removing him from their fantasy teams.