Alarms Ring at Liverpool: Hugo Ekitike on the Sidelines

Liverpool’s coach praises the leader’s solidity while dealing with Hugo Ekitike’s serious doubt ahead of the London clash.

Liverpool is gearing up for one of the toughest tests of the season. This Wednesday, ahead of the clash against Arsenal, Dutch coach Arne Slot heaped praise on the current Premier League leaders. For the Reds’ strategist, the key to success in London lies in their absolute balance: “Their greatest strength is that, basically, they have no weaknesses,” he stated firmly.

A solid and versatile leader

Slot highlighted that Mikel Arteta’s team excels in every aspect of modern football. “They are excellent at defending, but they can also punish you in intricate plays, set pieces, or long transitions,” he explained. With 15 wins in 20 matches and the best defensive record in the league, the Gunners lead Liverpool by 14 points—a gap Slot hopes to close in what he describes as a “match with a Champions League feel.”

Liverpool, between inconsistency and absences

Despite having beaten Arsenal in August (1-0), the reigning English champions are going through a period of ups and downs. Slot acknowledged that, although the team has plenty of talent, they have lacked the consistency needed to keep pace with the leaders. The situation is further complicated by confirmed absences in attack:

Mohamed Salah: Competing in the African Cup of Nations with Egypt.
Alexander Isak: Out with a long-term injury.
Hugo Ekitike: The French forward is the big question mark in the starting XI. After missing the Fulham match, Slot confirmed that the player has not yet returned to group training, leaving his participation in doubt until the last minute.*

For Slot, this Thursday will be the perfect opportunity to gauge his team’s true level against an Arsenal side that, in his words, “has been good for years, but this season they are even better.”