Liverpool players and staff may have offered a subtle clue over whether Ekitike will be available to face Arsenal.
Liverpool supporters will be hoping Hugo Ekitike can recover in time for Thursday night’s pivotal Premier League clash against Arsenal.
The Reds’ leading scorer this season sat out last weekend’s 2–2 draw at Fulham with a minor hamstring issue, and Arne Slot has so far remained vague about whether the 23-year-old will be fit for the trip to the Emirates. A clearer picture is expected when the head coach addresses the media at Wednesday morning’s pre-match press conference, although some subtle clues may already have emerged from within Anfield — including from one of Ekitike’s teammates.
Liverpool players and staff remove Ekitike from FPL squads
FPL Focal, a website that tracks Fantasy Premier League teams belonging to players and staff at top-flight clubs, includes several Liverpool-affiliated participants. It also monitors weekly transfers made by those involved.
Ahead of the Arsenal fixture, Conor Bradley, head of rehab physiotherapy Lee Nobes, and Neil Jones have all removed Ekitike from their FPL teams — a move that hasn’t gone unnoticed.
Coincidence or cause for concern?
It could, of course, be nothing more than coincidence. However, given that Ekitike missed the Fulham match on Sunday, the decision by all three to drop the French forward has inevitably fuelled doubts over his availability for Thursday night.
The fact that a senior medical staff member has opted to take the striker out of his fantasy side may suggest that Liverpool’s number 22 is more likely to miss out than feature at the Emirates — a major potential blow as the Reds look to stop the league leaders.
That said, Fantasy Premier League decisions are hardly a reliable substitute for medical assessments, and Slot is expected to give a far more accurate update on Ekitike’s condition when he speaks later today.
For now, Liverpool fans can only hope for positive news on the striker’s fitness — especially with Alexander Isak ruled out for the foreseeable future — even if some inside the club have already sacrificed him from their fantasy football teams.