Liverpool’s Hugo Ekitike has been left out of the squad for the game against Fulham. The club said the French forward missed the game against Craven Cottage due to minor fitness concerns. Arne Slott is without striker Alexander Isak, who is already on the treatment bed, and Mohamed Salah, who is on tour with Egypt at the African Cup of Nations.
The Dutch head coach faces another blow, with Ekitike’s absence adding to his attacking woes. Slott explained that Ekitike has a hamstring issue as a result of increased playing time. “Alexander Isak has been out for the last few weeks, so Hugo has had to play more time than he has all season,” Slott said.
“That led to the fact that he had a slight injury to his hamstring because we had more time to play with him.
“For a player of his age who is not completely used to the Premier League, it was a bit too much. That is why he is absent today and hopefully he will be back against Arsenal, but that remains to be seen.”
The striker has scored eight goals in 18 Premier League appearances, but failed to find the back of the net in the last two games against Wolves and Leeds.
The former Frankfurt marksman had five shots in three games before the recent dry season.
With Liverpool leading a team lacking a natural centre-forward, Kodi Gakpo or Florian Wirtz are likely to spearhead the attack in west London, with creative support from Dominik Szoboszlai.
Gakpo is one of three new faces in the slot starting XI, with Milos Kerkes and Alexis Mac Allister also returning, while Jeremy Frimpong and Andrew Robertson sit on the bench.
Joe Gomez, who was sidelined with a muscle problem, returned to Liverpool’s match-day squad and was included in the substitute squad. The defender has missed Liverpool’s last three games, with his most recent appearance coming against Brighton.
The Reds will be keen to get back to winning ways after a goalless draw with Leeds on New Year’s Day. Despite Ekitike’s absence, Slott will be looking to extend his team’s seven-game unbeaten run in the league.
Liverpool’s starting lineup: Alisson. Bradley, Konate, Van Dijk, Kerkes. Graven Birch, Jones. Mac Allister. Shoboschlei, Gakpo, Wirtz.
Substitutes: Mamadashvili, Woodman, Gomez, Chiesa, Robertson, Frimpong, Nyoni, Ramsey, Ngmoha.
