Liverpool are certain to be without six players for their Premier League trip to Arsenal on Thursday evening, but Hugo Ekitike could be added to the list.
Arne Slot‘s forward ranks continue to bear the brunt of the absences, which will leave him to name a makeshift attack once more at the Emirates.
For the second time in three seasons, Mo Salah will miss the trip to the Emirates due to the Africa Cup of Nations, with his absence extended after Egypt progressed to the quarter-finals.
Liverpool injuries and absentees list
With Alexander Isak sidelined for the foreseeable after a nasty leg injury, Slot was left to sweat over Ekitike‘s ability to train on Wednesday.
The Frenchman missed the trip to Fulham with a minor hamstring issue and as of Wednesday morning had failed to train with the team, with his availability hinging on proving his fitness.
“He’s not trained with us until now. Let’s see if he can today (Wednesday),” Slot told reporters.
“I said when we played Fulham that he’s not going to be out for long, but yeah, because games come so fast he’s in between – maybe training with the team or it would take him one or two days extra.”
A start is unlikely even if he was to prove his fitness, which would leave Cody Gakpo, Florian Wirtz, Federico Chiesa, Jeremie Frimpong and Dominik Szoboszlai as the likeliest options in attack.
PITTSBURGH - Friday, July 26, 2024: Liverpool substitute Stefan Bajcetic during a pre-season friendly match between Liverpool and Real Betis Balompié at the Acrisure Stadium on day three of the club's pre-season tour of the USA. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
Liverpool remain without Giovanni Leoni, Stefan Bajcetic and Jayden Danns, plus Wataru Endo, who is still nursing an ankle injury.
If you’re left wondering why Bajcetic has yet to be reintegrated into the squad, it is because he suffered a setback with his hamstring injury, with a February return to be followed by minutes with the U21s.
As for the trip to the Emirates, Slot could name an unchanged lineup for the fourth time this season, or seek to make tweaks with Andy Robertson, Frimpong and Chiesa in contention.
Liverpool’s available squad vs. Fulham
Goalkeepers: Alisson, Mamardashvili, Woodman
Defenders: Van Dijk, Konate, Gomez, Lucky, Bradley, Frimpong, Kerkez, Robertson, Ramsay
Midfielders: Szoboszlai, Gravenberch, Jones, Mac Allister, Nyoni
Forwards: Wirtz, Gakpo, Ekitike*, Chiesa, Ngumoha
* Doubt