Overview
- Hugo Ekitike was left out of the squad at Fulham with what the club called a minor fitness issue, which Arne Slot identified as a slight hamstring problem.
- Slot said Ekitike is hopeful but not certain to return for Thursday's trip to Arsenal.
- The head coach linked the injury to increased workload after Alexander Isak's recent absence.
- With no recognised No 9 available, Liverpool started Dominik Szoboszlai, Florian Wirtz and Cody Gakpo as a makeshift front line at Craven Cottage.
- Ekitike leads Liverpool with 11 goals this season and has contributed to six of the team's last ten goals, a role that has grown with Mohamed Salah at the Africa Cup of Nations.