Arne Slot outlines Hugo Ekitike injury hope and conversation with Federico Chiesa

Liverpool head coach Arne Slot has previewed the FA Cup tie against Barnsley, which is on Monday, with the likes of Hugo Ekitike and Federico Chiesa hoping to be involved

Liverpool head Arne Slot and striker Hugo Ekitike.(Image: Chris Brunskill/Fantasista/Getty Images)

Arne Slot is hopeful that Hugo Ekitike will be available to face Barnsley in the FA Cup after the French forward missed the draws with Fulham and Arsenal in the Premier League.

A scan before the Reds drew 2-2 at Craven Cottage revealed that Ekitike was not going to be available. He was then hoping to be back to feature at the Emirates Stadium, but couldn't recover in time.

"Hugo, not 100 percent sure, but we will do everything to have him available on Monday," Slot said. Liverpool is currently without half of its forward options, so a return for Ekitike would be a major boost.

"I think if I am correct, [Wataru Endo] might start to train one of these days, but he has been out for two months now," Slot continued. "That is of course different from being out for one week, but Alex [Isak] is not going to be back yet and Mo [Salah] plays (at AFCON)."

What about Jayden Danns, the 19-year-old striker who broke into the senior set-up under Jurgen Klopp?

"No, not fit enough, not even training," Slot said. "He is one of the players that got a stress fracture because he was young and was a bit overtrained.

Federico Chiesa and Rio Ngumoha of Liverpool during a training session at AXA Training Centre(Image: 2025 Liverpool FC)

"That is why we are so careful with Rio Ngumoha, that he is two days a week off the pitch if that is possible. We do not have that same situation with him but Jayden is definitely not available in the short term."

Ordinarily, the FA Cup would be a logical place to throw in a few young players and rotate the team. But Slot has hinted that might not be the case, depending on availability.

"I spoke to [Federico Chiesa] two days ago and he said he played more in the recent weeks than he ever did before under me," Slot explained.

"He is one of the players that could feature in that game, definitely. But like I said Hugo might be back. Let’s see how we might start that game and he is one of the options that I have so let’s see.

"I think last season I made the decision that some players needed to rest in the FA Cup because you cannot play every player every single time but it is obvious that we are not in the League Cup anymore and the FA Cup has always been very important for this club.

"Sometimes in a season when you are still competing for the League Cup, the Champions League, and the league. With the amount of players we had last season and we have this season, you have to make choices.

"I can guarantee you that on Monday you will see all the players you see (against Arsenal). Maybe with some substitutions, but then they will be on the bench, so that is going to be different from last season against Plymouth."