'They will': Steve Nicol predicts how much Liverpool will miss Hugo Ekitike against Crystal Palace today
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Liverpool face Crystal Palace today, but they are going to be without Hugo Ekitike for their trip to Selhurst Park.
Arne Slot’s side are looking to make it an impressive six wins out of six in the Premier League when they face the Eagles in South London this afternoon, although it is not an easy ask.
The Reds have had experience with this impressive Palace side, drawing 2-2 in the Community Shield, only to be beaten on penalties after the full-time whistle.
However, that was in August, before the perfect start to the season for Liverpool, and the team, while still not at their full capacity, have started to find more rhythm.
One key player they will miss for this trip is Ekitike, after he received a second yellow card in the League Cup against Southampton, for celebrating his winning goal by taking his shirt off and holding it up to the crowd.
Photo by PAUL ELLIS/AFP via Getty Images
It was a shame for the in-form Frenchman to miss this game after being a real force in the league since joining Slot’s team in the summer.
Despite this blow, Alexander Isak, their other striker signing, is ready to step into his place this weekend, even if he is not at full fitness.
It was likely that the Swedish international, after scoring his debut goal against the Saints, would make an appearance off the bench, but now he will make his first top-flight start in a red shirt.
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Steve Nicol believes the red card issue, which has made Isak a likely starter, is a blessing in disguise for the Dutch manager, given he would have to decide when to start the star signing.
During ESPN FC, he was asked whether they would miss the 23-year-old French international, and the former Liverpool player was convinced it is actually a perfect opportunity.
Nicol said: “Some things fall into managers’ laps, and this is one of them because there’s no question Slot has a decision to make or had a decision to make.
Isak will start.
And to say they’re going to miss Ekitike when you can start Alexander Isak, I don’t think anybody’s going to fall for that one… They will miss the opportunity of maybe giving Isak a breather with 25 30 minutes to go, but other than that, no.”
It is still a tricky opponent for the Merseyside giants to break down, especially given their recent record since Slot arrived, which is a win, a draw, and a loss.
Oliver Glasner’s side are themselves unbeaten this season, but have drawn three of their first five fixtures with victories over Aston Villa and West Ham.
However, Nicol believes that there is one advantage that Liverpool will definitely have over Palace on Saturday, and that is goals.
He explained: “There’s no Eze now to bail them out when they do all that shape and defending and getting players behind the ball.
So, I don’t see how you cannot think that Liverpool, even though it’s at Palace with that great support they’ve got and the atmosphere they create, there’s no way you can think that Liverpool are not favourites to win this game.
“Again, goal scorers, Isak in for Ekitike, but they have got goal scorers all around the field.
You can’t say that about Crystal Palace.
And Crystal Palace have been struggling to score goals.