Arne Slot has offered reassurance after the injury that forced Hugo Ekitike to leave the pitch just minutes into Liverpool F.C.’s defeat to Brighton & Hove Albion F.C. on Saturday afternoon at the Amex Stadium.
The Reds striker looked visibly upset as he walked off shortly after kick-off, with some home supporters jeering while he made his way down the tunnel. His early withdrawal dealt a blow to Liverpool’s attacking options, particularly with Mohamed Salah already absent from the match.
However, Slot has moved to calm fears about the severity of the injury. The Liverpool manager revealed that the 23-year-old suffered only a dead leg following a collision with James Milner, stressing that the issue was less serious than initially feared.
Speaking after the game, Slot explained that Ekitike could even feature again as soon as the next day if required, noting that the substitution was simply a precaution after the impact.
Liverpool clearly missed Ekitike’s attacking threat as they slumped to another frustrating defeat, struggling to keep up with Brighton’s tempo and energy throughout the contest. ⚽😬
The encouraging news for the club is that the French forward is not expected to face a lengthy spell on the sidelines and should be ready after the international break. That means he could be available for the upcoming FA Cup quarter-final clash against Manchester City F.C. on 4 April, provided there are no setbacks.
Ekitike has taken on much of the attacking responsibility in recent months following the broken leg suffered by Alexander Isak. While Isak is expected to return soon, he may still require time to regain full match fitness.
For Liverpool, avoiding a serious injury to Ekitike comes as a major relief, as they will need him firing on all cylinders if they hope to salvage something from what has been a challenging season. 🔴
