Manager Arne Slot says striker is getting more minutes than he should for now due to absences
Liverpool striker Hugo Ekitike has sustained an injury because he is still adapting to the Premier League and cannot fully cope with its physical demands yet, according to Arne Slot.
The Frenchman missed Liverpool’s 1-1 draw against Fulham at Craven Cottage on Sunday, the attack looking uninspired in the striker’s absence. Ekitike has scored 11 goals in all competitions so far for Liverpool, and eight in the league.
“He felt something during the training session,” said Slot. “So he went for an MRI scan and we got the results when we were flying [to London]. So we were hoping that it was just a bit of DOMS [Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness].
Asked why Ekitike got injured, Slot said: “Because Alex [Isak] has been out and since Alex is out here, he [Ekitike] doesn’t play 70 minutes or 60 minutes or sometimes get a bit of rest. He has to play 80 or 90 minutes every single game for the first time in his life at Premier League level.
“For the first time in his life [he never] had a winter break, for the first time in his life at Champions League level. So not a surprise that he then gets a bit tired and gets DOMS.
“And we were hoping it would have only been DOMS, then we could have used him maybe as a sub. But unfortunately, we saw a little bit more and then you cannot take a risk. “
