Hugo Ekitike is tonight expected to miss Liverpool’s huge clash against Premier League title favourites Arsenal.
The striker missed the draw at Fulham with a muscle injury, with Reds manager Arne Slot hopeful at the time that Ekitike would recover in time to face the Gunners.
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Slot said at the weekend: “[Ekitike] felt something during training, so he went for an MRI scan, and we got the result when we were flying. We were hoping it was just a bit of DOMS [Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness] ... but unfortunately, we saw a little bit more, and then you cannot take a risk.”
As of Wednesday morning, Ekitike has been unable to train with his team-mates, throwing his involvement against Arsenal into significant doubt.
Providing an update: "Not trained with us until now. Let's see if he can today. I've said two or three days ago that he's not going to be out for long. Because games come so fast he's in between maybe training with the team or it will take him one or two days extra."
In his place, Cody Gakpo is expected to lead the line, having scored against Fulham from the same role last time out, but could see himself as the focal point of a front three rather than spearheading a four-man attack.
Florian Wirtz should take his place on the left, but Jeremie Frimpong could be the one providing support on the right.
That would see Alexis Mac Allister and Dominik Szoboszlai move into deeper midfield roles alongside Ryan Gravenberch in a 4-3-3, as Curtis Jones drops out.
Conor Bradley can keep his place at right-back, but the experience of Andrew Robertson may be preferred over the erratic Milos Kerkez.
Predicted Liverpool XI: Alisson; Bradley, Konate, Van Dijk, Robertson; Szoboszlai, Mac Allister, Gravenberch; Frimpong, Gakpo, Wirtz
Doubts: Ekitike
Injured: Isak, Endo, Leoni
AFCON: Salah
Time and date: 8pm GMT on Thursday, January 8, 2026
Venue: Emirates Stadium
How to watch: Sky Sports
