A look at how Liverpool might line up when they are entertained by Arsenal at the Emirates on Thursday evening
Hugo Ekitike looks on
Hugo Ekitike missed the trip to Fulham(Image: Getty)
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The major talking point about Arne Slot's team selection for Liverpool's trip to Arsenal surrounds the fitness of Hugo Ekitike.
The France international missed Sunday's 2-2 draw with Fulham with Slot confirming the striker travelled with the team but got the results of an MRI scan while en route to London with the rest of his colleagues.
"Yes, he travelled because he felt something during the training session," Slot said. "He felt something during the MRI scan and we got the results when we were flying. We were hoping it was a bit of DOMS (delayed onset muscle soreness), which he also had.
"Why? Because Alex Isak has been out and since Alex has been out, he doesn’t play 60 or 70 minutes and sometimes gets a bit of rest. He has to play 80 or 90 minutes every single game for the first time in his life without a winter break and for the first time, at Champions League level."It’s not a big surprise he gets a bit of DOMS. We were hoping it would be DOMS and we could have used him as a sub but, unfortunately, we saw a bit more and couldn’t take a risk."
The hope is that Ekitike can now return to the side at the Emirates on Thursday evening and his comeback will be needed for a Reds side who struggled to create too many openings against Marco Silva's Cottagers on Sunday without him.
Eleven-goal top scorer Ekitike will surely be critical to a positive result against the Premier League leaders, so if he is fit, he will lead the line but Slot has big decisions to make on either side of the centre-forward position.
Cody Gakpo's first start for a month coincided with a goal at Fulham but has he done enough to dislodge Florian Wirtz? The Germany playmaker has been impressive in recent weeks off the left side of the attack and his surety in possession and ability to look after the ball will be needed against Mikel Arteta's Arsenal.
On the other flank, Jeremie Frimpong has been a bright spark in recent weeks with the Netherlands international offering some real pace and attacking threat down that side. With three assists in recent weeks - for Hugo Ekitike, Ryan Gravenberch and Gakpo - Frimpong has done as much as anyone else of late to make up for the creative shortfall.
His direct threat, particularly in transition, might be a useful tool on the night with Liverpool likely to sit in and absorb the pressure of an Arsenal side who still have question marks over their ability to create bundles in open play.
Federico Chiesa is another option but that feels like a shock inclusion at this stage while Dominik Szoboszlai may be selected to offer more solidity both on that side and in central areas.
In the engine room itself, Curtis Jones, Alexis Mac Allister and Ryan Gravenberch are all ready for inclusion but a recall for the jet-heeled Frimpong, if he is to start in the forward options, will likely see the trusted workhorse Szoboszlai move central.
As ever the battle for a spot at left-back between Andy Robertson and Milos Kerkez goes on and Conor Bradley and Joe Gomez are options on the right side. Gomez has been sidelined with an injury of late but his centre-back instincts might be useful at the Emirates as Slot looks to tighten up once more.