Arne Slot Gives Hugo Ekitike Fitness Update for Arsenal After Liverpool Injury Scare

Liverpool manager Arne Slot has provided an update on Hugo Ekitike's fitness ahead of the Reds' clash against Arsenal on Thursday night, following the striker's late withdrawal from the 2-2 draw at Fulham on Sunday.

Ekitike was ruled out just hours before kickoff after undergoing an MRI scan that revealed a minor hamstring issue. The injury came as a significant blow given Liverpool's attacking depth problems, with Alexander Isak sidelined since his collision with Tottenham's Micky van de Ven in December.

The 23-year-old French striker had shouldered the creative load up front, playing six consecutive matches over 26 days before the Fulham fixture. Medical staff initially suspected delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS) following intensive fixture congestion, but scans revealed a genuine injury concern.

Speaking in his pre-Arsenal press conference, Slot acknowledged uncertainty over Ekitike's availability for Thursday's match. The manager confirmed that Ekitike had only recently begun training with the squad again, describing the situation as "touch and go" due to the rapid turnaround between fixtures.

"He's not trained with us until today," Slot stated. "Let's see if he can today. I've said two or three days ago when we played Fulham that he's not going to be out for long. But because games come so fast, he's in-between training with the team and taking one or two days extra."

Slot acknowledged the difficult balance of managing player fitness during congested schedules, noting that the four-day turnaround from Fulham to Arsenal presents challenges in determining readiness. Liverpool will provide a clearer update closer to Thursday's fixture.