Every Word Arne Slot Said on Hugo Ekitike Fitness and Harvey Elliott Return

Liverpool head coach Arne Slot addressed the media ahead of the Reds' clash with Wolves, covering Hugo Ekitike's fitness, Harvey Elliott's situation, set-pieces, and more during his press conference at the AXA Training Centre.[1][2]

On Hugo Ekitike's Development and Fitness

Slot expressed growing excitement about Ekitike's adaptation to Liverpool's demands, praising his off-ball work over goals alone. The 23-year-old Frenchman has netted twice as many goals as stars like Mohamed Salah, but Slot highlighted his defensive contributions: "He improved a lot in terms of how much he runs during a game, how hard he works and that’s a big help for the team."[2] In pre-signing talks, Slot focused more on defensive expectations than offense: "Offensively he can [already do it]... Defensively I’m more and more excited to see what he’s doing."[2] Ekitike has exceeded no expectations, fitting perfectly as an all-round No. 9 who presses efficiently and links play.[2]

On Harvey Elliott's Return and Future

Regarding Harvey Elliott, Slot clarified his status amid loan rumors: "Harvey is an Aston Villa player and he is supposed to be going there for a season. Any questions about him, the best thing [is] to ask in Villa."[1] Earlier, Slot noted Elliott's limited minutes due to competition and injury: "Harvey is one of the players that hasn't had as much playing time as he maybe deserves... I've been honest with him."[3] Slot emphasized retaining talent as a club strength.[3]

Set-Pieces and Team Concerns

Slot stressed his obsession with set-pieces: "We're the only team in the top end of the table that has a negative set-piece balance." He dismissed coincidences after half a season, noting defensive setups remain similar despite summer changes.[1]

Other Notes

On young winger Rio Ngumoha, Slot explained a substitution for set-piece defense, not injury.[1] Slot reflected on title implications, praising fans and planning advantages.[3] Ekitike chose Liverpool over Newcastle and Man United for its project post-Frankfurt.[4]

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