Arne Slot Shocks with Hugo Ekitike Injury Reversal Before Crucial Arsenal Clash
Liverpool boss Arne Slot backtracked on his earlier assessment that Hugo Ekitiké would probably be fit for Thursday's crucial encounter at Arsenal, instead confirming that the French forward had not yet resumed training sessions.
Ekitiké missed Liverpool's 2–2 stalemate with Fulham on Sunday due to what Slot characterized as a "minor hamstring problem." The Dutch manager initially sought to minimize the seriousness of the 23-year-old's condition, dismissing it as barely more than muscle fatigue right after the visit to Craven Cottage.
Nevertheless, during his press conference ahead of the midweek showdown with league-leading Arsenal, Slot admitted that his earlier confidence might have been premature.
"He hasn't participated in our training sessions so far," Slot commented about Ekitiké on Wednesday morning, with less than 48 hours remaining before taking his squad to an Emirates Stadium where Arsenal remains unbeaten. "We'll see whether he can join us in today's session.
"A few days back, following our match against Fulham, I suggested he wouldn't be sidelined for long, but it's challenging because fixtures arrive so quickly," he conceded. "He's somewhere between potentially training with the squad or needing an additional day or two."
Ekitiké Unavailability Suggested by Liverpool Personnel
Ekitiké's unavailability proved disappointing for Slot and Fantasy Premier League enthusiasts worldwide. While the popular game wouldn't have been Slot's immediate priority, it seems FPL may have provided insight into his injury situation.
The profile attributed to Lee Nobes, Liverpool's chief physiotherapist, swapped Ekitiké for Brentford forward Igor Thiago ahead of the Arsenal fixture, according to the Daily Mail.
Even assuming this represents a genuine account, the motivation for the FPL switch remains highly speculative. Thiago has, after all, just netted a treble and sits merely two strikes away from achieving the most successful Premier League season by any Brazilian in the league's history, eclipsing a mark currently held jointly by Liverpool's Roberto Firmino.
What Slot wouldn't sacrifice for such a central attacking option for this crucial Arsenal encounter.
How Liverpool Might Set Up Against Arsenal Without Ekitiké
Without Ekitiké available against Fulham, Slot opted for Cody Gakpo. The Dutch attacker was frequently utilized centrally under Jürgen Klopp and endured notable goal droughts. Gakpo's national team coach Ronald Koeman attributed this inconsistency to his positioning.
"Primarily, his role is on the left flank," Koeman stated directly during Euro 2024, a competition where Gakpo flourished while playing exclusively as a wide player. "Because he poses real threats when facing the opposing right-back one-on-one. Whether cutting inside or going wide, he possesses the skills and physical strength."
Slot, who initially encountered Gakpo's wide abilities when they were rivals in the Dutch league, has generally shared his countryman's view. Last weekend's Fulham clash marked Gakpo's debut among his 51 starts under Slot as a central striker. The 26-year-old managed a late strike but looked uncomfortable throughout most of the sluggish encounter.
However, with Alexander Isak still far from recovering from his leg fracture and Ekitiké possibly remaining unavailable, Gakpo may be compelled to continue in a position where he has consistently appeared uneasy.
Federico Chiesa offers no greater natural striking instincts than Gakpo, while Slot appears hesitant to revert to the twin false-nine formation featuring Curtis Jones and Dominik Szoboszlai that showed promise in limited spells last campaign.