Liverpool take on league leaders Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium this Thursday night, but will do so with a reduced front line.
Thats because headline summer signing Alexander Isak faces a significant spell on the sidelines with a broken ankle, and Mohamed Salah is still away with Egypt at the Africa Cup of Nations.
Arne Slots issues are further compounded by the question marks over Hugo Ekitikes fitness, as the Frenchman was absent from the matchday squad that faced Fulham last time out.
Hugo Ekitike injury latest ahead of Arsenal v Liverpool
After a summer spend of �446m, Slots XI to face the Cottagers looked remarkably similar to last season, with only two newer faces Milos Kerkez and Florian Wirtz in the line-up.
Injuries mean the Reds boss had little say in that matter, but he will be hoping to have at least one of his signings back for the Arsenal trip in Ekitike.
It does not seem like a forgone conclusion that the 23-year-old will be available for selection, however.
He has not trained with us until now, Slot informed the press on Wednesday morning. Lets see if he can today.
Ive 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.
The Merseyside club confirmed that the striker missed their last game against Fulham with a case of delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS).
Cody Gakpo led the line in Ekitikes place at the weekend, notching what appeared to be a late winner in the fourth minute of stoppage time, before Harrison Reed levelled the game with an even later equaliser moments after.
For all the talk in the summer of how Isak and Ekitike were going to exist in the same squad, it seemed unlikely that Slot would need the services of a third top class striker.
But that is exactly what has happened over the last week, with Gakpo the only true option to fill in.
In FourFourTwos opinion, it makes a win for Liverpool in this game look difficult, especially against a squad as deep and in-form as Arsenals.
Ekitike is valued at 85m, according to Transfermarkt.
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