“’Possibly…’ – Arne Slot offers cautious update on Ekitike’s fitness ahead of Liverpool’s clash with Arsenal”

 

 

Hugo Ekitike was a surprise late absence from Liverpool’s 2-2 draw with Fulham on Sunday, sidelined by a minor hamstring issue.

It marked only the third game all season that the 23-year-old hasn’t featured, with manager Arne Slot pointing to the striker’s heavy workload as a factor—rotation has been limited further due to Alexander Isak’s long-term injury.

With Liverpool set to face Premier League leaders Arsenal on Thursday, the window for Ekitike’s recovery is tight, leaving fans anxious over whether their current top scorer will be available at the Emirates.

After the Fulham clash, Slot was cautious when discussing Ekitike’s chances, noting that a four-day turnaround might be too short. Asked by beIN SPORTS if the French forward could feature against the Gunners, Slot replied: “Could be. Let’s wait and see how he does in the coming days. It’s always a thin line and a difficult balance. If a player isn’t ready today, can he be ready in four days?”

A clearer update is expected in Slot’s pre-match press conference on Wednesday, but his initial comments suggest Ekitike may miss the Arsenal showdown—a significant blow for the reigning champions in what has already been a challenging season.

At least Cody Gakpo was fit to start against Fulham, scoring in the 2-2 draw, but Liverpool will need their strongest squad possible to tackle the league leaders, who have extended their gap over Manchester City this week.

Liverpool’s attacking depth remains limited—Federico Chiesa was the only senior forward on the bench at Craven Cottage and rarely starts, while Arsenal, by contrast, could bring on Bukayo Saka, Leandro Trossard, and Gabriel Jesus without even using Eberechi Eze in their recent win over Bournemouth.

If Ekitike does make it against Arsenal, Slot could then rest him for next Monday’s FA Cup clash with Barnsley, giving the striker crucial recovery time ahead of a packed January schedule.

Fans will be hoping the 23-year-old is declared fit, as Liverpool will need every ounce of firepower to extend their unbeaten run to 10 matches.