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Liverpool boss Arne Slot has delivered an update on the fitness of Hugo Ekitike ahead of Thursday's crunch Premier League trip to Arsenal
Hugo Ekitike remains a doubt for Liverpool's trip to Arsenal in the Premier League.
The Frenchman, who has struck 11 goals in 26 appearances for the Reds since signing on the dotted line from Eintracht Frankfurt, has been suffering with muscle soreness.
Arne Slot is not willing to provide any assurances that Ekitike will be fit for the contest, either.
The Dutchman said during his press conference on Wednesday morning: “He has not trained with us until now and let’s see if he can today [Wednesday].
“I’ve said, I think, two or three days ago when we played Fulham that he is not going to be out for long but because games come so fast he is in between maybe training with the team or it would take him one or two days extra.”
Ekitike missed Sunday's 2-2 draw at Fulham and five other Liverpool players are expected to miss tomorrow's showdown with Arsenal.
Mohamed Salah is still at the Africa Cup of Nations with Egypt, Alexander Isak recently underwent surgery on a fractured leg, Wataru Endo (ankle) and Stefan Bajcetic (hamstring) remain absent while centre-back Giovanni Leoni is still in the early stages of his recovery following ACL surgery.
Slot explained at Craven Cottage on Sunday that Hugo Ekitike was battling delayed onset muscle soreness despite travelling to west London with his team-mates.
The Premier League-winning boss said over the weekend: “Yes, [Hugo] travelled because he felt something during the training session, so he went for an MRI scan and we got the result when we were flying,” Slot said.
“We were hoping it was just a bit of DOMS, which he also had. Why? Because Alex [Isak] has been out and since Alex is out [Hugo] doesn't play 70 minutes or 60 minutes or sometimes gets a bit of rest."
Arsenal do also have several fitness issues of their own. Riccardo Calafiori has been sidelined over the past few weeks while Cristhian Mosquera is still stepping up his recovery from an ankle injury sustained against Brentford last month.
Youngster Max Dowman is also out with an ankle injury sustained in a behind-closed-doors friendly against Manchester United at St George's Park.
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