Arne Slot explains Hugo Ekitike injury absence at Fulham and admits Liverpool worry

Arne Slot Explains Hugo Ekitike Injury Absence at Fulham and Admits Liverpool Worry

Liverpool manager Arne Slot has confirmed that forward Hugo Ekitike will miss the Premier League clash against Fulham due to a slight hamstring injury, raising concerns for the Reds ahead of a packed schedule.[2][5]

The French striker, who has emerged as Liverpool's first-choice No.9 following Alexander Isak's long-term leg fracture against Tottenham in December, was absent from the matchday squad at Craven Cottage. Ekitike, a summer signing from Eintracht Frankfurt, has been in red-hot form with 11 goals across all competitions this season, stepping up impressively after Isak's £125m misfortune.[3] He recently opened up about the situation, expressing sympathy for Isak while emphasizing his commitment: "It's difficult... but for me, I try to do my job."[3]

Slot provided details pre-match, attributing the injury to increased playing time: "Hugo picked up a slight hamstring injury because we had to play him more and more minutes. Hopefully he will be back for the Arsenal game."[2][4] The club described it as a "minor fitness issue," but Slot specified the hamstring problem to Sky Sports, leaving Ekitike's availability for the upcoming Arsenal fixture in doubt.[5]

This comes amid a challenging period for Liverpool, who drew 0-0 with Leeds United midweek at Anfield, frustrating fans. The team aims to rebound against an inconsistent Fulham side, with recent head-to-heads often decided by slim margins.[2] Without Ekitike, Slot's line-up features Alisson in goal, alongside Van Dijk, Konate, and attackers like Gakpo and Gravenberch.[2]

Earlier concerns about Ekitike arose from a Champions League game in Istanbul against Galatasaray, where he went down after stretching for a ball and was substituted on 68 minutes. Slot noted: "He felt something when he had to reach for the ball," hinting at potential issues, though the hamstring flare-up appears linked to recent workload.[1]

Liverpool, pushing for a top-four spot, faces a busy January. Ekitike remains optimistic about the team's resilience: "We need to... go to Fulham and show that we are always able to get better."[3] Fans will hope for his swift return to bolster the attack.

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