Liverpool return to action on Thursday night with a daunting away trip to Premier League pace-setters Arsenal. However, the Reds are still waiting to learn exactly which players will be fit and available to face the clear title favourites.
The main uncertainty surrounds Hugo Ekitike’s fitness. The French forward, Liverpool’s leading scorer this season with 11 goals, sat out Sunday’s 2-2 draw at Fulham because of a hamstring issue.
Head coach Arne Slot remains optimistic that the striker could be ready in time for the visit to the Emirates.
“It wasn’t unexpected that he’d feel some muscle soreness,” Slot explained. “We were hoping it was only DOMS and that we might be able to use him from the bench, but we noticed something more and didn’t want to take any risks.”
Having Ekitike available would be a significant boost, particularly with Alexander Isak sidelined for several months following ankle surgery after fracturing his fibula in a collision with Tottenham’s Micky van de Ven when he scored in Liverpool’s 2-1 win before Christmas.
Florian Wirtz is expected to remain involved after managing to play — and score — at Fulham despite dealing with similar hamstring discomfort over the festive period.
Mohamed Salah, however, is still away on Africa Cup of Nations duty with Egypt, who have reached the quarter-finals, while teenage defender Giovanni Leoni is out for the season after undergoing ACL surgery in September.
Wataru Endo also continues to be unavailable, having been out for the past month with an ankle injury picked up in the 3-3 draw with Leeds United.
