Hugo Ekitike Injury Update Ahead of Arsenal Clash

Liverpool's top striker Hugo Ekitike is a major doubt for Thursday's crucial Premier League clash against leaders Arsenal, manager Arne Slot confirmed in his pre-match press conference.[1][2][3]

Ekitike, the 23-year-old French forward who joined from Eintracht Frankfurt last summer, missed Sunday's 2-2 draw at Fulham due to a minor hamstring issue uncovered by an MRI scan just hours before kick-off. Initially thought to be delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS) from a grueling schedule of six matches in 26 days, the scans revealed a more serious concern, sidelining him despite being fit to travel.[2][4]

With Alexander Isak out since December after a collision with Tottenham's Micky van de Ven, Ekitike has shouldered Liverpool's attacking load as their leading goalscorer this season. Slot provided the latest update: “He’s not trained with us until today. Let’s see if he can today. I 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 maybe training with the team or it may take him one or two days extra.”[1][2][3][5]

Liverpool sit 14 points behind Arsenal after 20 games, with title hopes faded but Champions League spots, FA Cup, and other trophies still in play. Slot views a win as a confidence booster: “It would mean a lot... we’ve shown we can compete with almost every team.” He emphasized the squad's talent despite inconsistencies and injuries.[1][3]

The match at the Emirates is pivotal—victory could spark a turnaround, while defeat widens the gap. Ekitike faces a late fitness test, leaving Liverpool's attack in limbo ahead of this high-stakes showdown.[3][6]

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