Fulham 2-2 Liverpool: Match Review
Liverpool team confirmed to face Arsenal in the Premier League.
Liverpool have made one change as they face Arsenal in the Premier League at the Emirates Stadium.
The Premier League champions head into the clash some 14 points behind the runaway top-flight leaders. And Arne Slot once again is without a recognised striker, with Hugo Ekitike missing out with a hamstring issue. Ekitike was also absent for last Sunday’s 2-2 draw at Fulham. Alexander Isak remains unavailable as he recovers from a broken leg.
Speaking at his pre-match press conference on Wednesday, head coach Slot admitted that Ekitike had not trained and cast doubt over his involvement. “He has not trained with us until now and let’s see if he can today [Wednesday],” said Slot.
“I’ve said, I think, two or three days ago when we played Fulham that he is not going to be out for long but because games come so fast he is in between maybe training with the team or it would take him one or two days extra.”
Ekitike’s absence means that Cody Gakpo is likely to lead the line. The Netherlands international thought he scored a 94th-minute winner against Fulham before Harrison Reed equalised three minutes later. Gakpo has chiefly operated as a left winger during Slot’s reign, although the former PSV Eindhoven man was regarded as a centre-forward under ex-manager Jurgen Klopp.
Jeremie Frimpong, who assisted Gakpo’s goal, returns to the starting line-up in the place of Curtis Jones.
With Mo Salah (AFCON), Wataru Endo (ankle), Giovanni Leoni (ACL), Stefan Bajcetic and Jayden Danns (both hamstring) all absent, Slot names two back-up goalkeepers - Giorgi Mamardshvili and Freddie Woodman - among the substitutes.
Liverpool: Alisson, Bradley, Van Dijk, Konate, Kerkez, Gravenberch, Mac Allister, Szoboszlai, Frimpong, Gakpo, Wirtz.
Subs: Mamardashvili, Woodman, Gomez, Chiesa, Jones, Robertson, Nyoni, Ramsay, Ngumoha.
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