Arne Slot gives harm replace on Hugo Ekitike

Liverpool boss Arne Slot has confirmed that summer time signing Hugo Ekitike sustained a again harm throughout Wednesday evening’s 4–1 defeat to Eredivisie champions PSV Eindhoven within the UEFA Champions League.

The 23-year-old returned to the Liverpool beginning XI for the conflict at Anfield however was withdrawn simply after the hour mark for Alexander Isak. On the time, the Reds had been trailing 2–1, and their report signing had struggled to affect proceedings earlier than PSV added two extra targets to seal a complete victory, changing into simply the second group ever to attain 4+ targets at Anfield in European competitors.

The defeat marks Liverpool’s ninth loss in 12 matches throughout all competitions and the third straight recreation during which they’ve been overwhelmed by a three-goal margin, piling much more stress on Slot after a depressing begin to each their home and European campaigns.

Ekitike might now be a doubt for Sunday’s Premier League conflict with West Ham United — a match that’s quickly shaping right into a must-win fixture for the champions as they appear to halt their damaging dropping run.

Blow

Slot is predicted to offer additional updates forward of the sport, however after the defeat to PSV, he defined in his post-match press convention that Ekitike was unable to proceed resulting from a again downside.

‘Particularly in the beginning of the second half, I continuously felt, ‘What’s flawed with Hugo?’ It felt as if he couldn’t transfer as he did [in] the primary half. So, that’s why our press was, I feel, additionally a bit bit off,’ Slot mentioned.

‘And he simply informed me that within the first 5 to 10 minutes of the primary half he already felt his again an excessive amount of. That’s additionally why he needed to exit.’

Ekitike struggled to affect the sport, taking 4 photographs — two of them on course — and recording solely 30 touches throughout his 61 minutes on the pitch.

The Frenchman is now with out a aim in his final six outings for the Reds, having final discovered the web within the 5-1 victory over former membership Eintracht Frankfurt in October.

Liverpool face West Ham at Anfield on Sunday, and Ekitike’s availability stays unsure because the Reds goal to keep away from a 3rd straight dwelling defeat and a fourth successive loss throughout all competitions.