Arne Slot has offered an update on Hugo Ekitike‘s hamstring injury, explaining that the decision to leave him out was a late call.
Ekitike didn’t feature in Liverpool’s squad for their 2-2 draw away at Fulham, with Slot saying before the game that the Frenchman “he picked up a slight hamstring injury.”
Hugo Ekitike injury update: A quick look
• Late call: Arne Slot revealed Hugo Ekitike missed the Fulham draw after a late MRI scan confirmed a minor hamstring issue
• Workload factor: The injury is attributed to Ekitike playing 80-90 minutes consistently for the first time without a winter break at Premier League level
• Wirtz fitness: Like Ekitike, Florian Wirtz is suffering from DOMS and is being managed carefully
After the match, he expanded on his previous answer, adding more details: “Yes, he (Ekitike) travelled.
“Because he felt something during the training sessions, he went for an MRI scan and we got the result when we were flying.
“So we were hoping it was just a bit of DOMS (delayed onset muscle soreness) – I think you call it DOMS in this country – which he also had.”
Prior to the Reds’ trip to Craven Cottage, Ekitike had started each of Liverpool’s last six matches, his longest run of starts this season.
This was the key reason for him picking up his ‘minor issue’ that he will “hopefully be back” from for the Arsenal game, as Slot put it.
FRANKFURT, GERMANY - Wednesday, October 22, 2025: Liverpool's Hugo Ekitike during the pre-match warm-up before the UEFA Champions League match between Eintracht Frankfurt and Liverpool FC at the Waldstadion. Liverpool won 5-1. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
The head coach explained: “Since Alex is out, he doesn’t play 70 minutes or 60 minutes or sometimes gets a bit of rest.
“He has to play 80 or 90 minutes every single game for the first time in his life at Premier League level, for the first time in his life without a winter break, for the first time in his life at Champions League level.
“So [it is] not a surprise that he then gets a bit tired and gets DOMS. We were hoping that it will have only been DOMS then we could have used him maybe as a sub, but unfortunately we saw a little bit more and then you cannot take a risk.”
Of Liverpool’s previous 13 games in all competitions before Fulham, Ekitike started 10 and played more than 80 minutes in five of the last six games across the last month.
Florian Wirtz also suffering from DOMS
LONDON, ENGLAND - Sunday, January 4, 2026: Liverpool's Florian Wirtz reacts to his attempt on goal flagged offside which was later ruled as a goal by a VAR check during the FA Premier League match between Fulham FC and Liverpool FC at Craven Cottage. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
Slot also spoke about how Florian Wirtz has been suffering from DOMS in recent weeks, an issue that usually causes muscle stiffness.
The Dutchman explained: “Florian had the same last week (as Ekitike) when we put him in an MRI scan, and then it was only DOMs so he didn’t have anything, but he is also for the first time experiencing this programme.
“And if I don’t have that many players, then I would like the ones that I do have available and play them as many minutes as possible but realistically, and I think that’s what I tried to do today.”
Slot’s caution around his No. 7’s fitness was evident as he came off in the 76th minute for Jeremie Frimpong, despite his team searching for another goal after he had equalised earlier in the second half.