Arsenal handed a huge boost ahead of Liverpool clash as Ekitike injury news makes headline
Hugo Ekitike injury update after Liverpool’s 2-2 draw against Fulham.
Arne Slot confirmed that Hugo Ekitike travelled with Liverpool for their clash against Fulham – but was omitted from the squad after the results of his MRI scan were confirmed.
A hamstring issue meant that the striker was absent for the 2-2 draw at Craven Cottage in the Premier League. Liverpool were without a recognised centre-forward, with Alexander Isak recovering from a broken leg sustained last month. Meanwhile, Mo Salah is representing Egypt at the African Cup of Nations, so it meant that Ekitike was not risked by the Reds’
Liverpool were held to a frustrating stalemate at Fulham, having thought they had won the game in stoppage-time when Cody Gakpo netted in the 94th minute – but Harrison Reed cracked home a thunderbolt just two minutes later.
On Ekitike’s injury, Anfield head coach Slot at his post-match press conference said: “Yes, he travelled because he felt something during the training session. He went for anMRI scan and we got the results when we were flying. We were hoping it was a bit of DOMS (delayed onset muscle soreness), which he also had.
“Why? Because Alex has been out and since Alex has been out, he doesn’t play 60 or 70 minutes and sometimes gets a bit of rest. He has to play 80 or 90 minutes every single game for the first time in his life without a winter break and for the first time, at Champions League level. It’s not a big surprise he gets a bit of DOMS. We were hoping it would be DOMS and we could have used him as a sub but, unfortunately, we saw a bit more and couldn’t take a risk.”
Liverpool stretched their unbeaten run to nine games although they were frustrated to have thrown away victory at Fulham. The Reds were dominant for much of the first half but the home side took the lead through Harry Wilson.
Florian Wirtz levelled for Slot’s men after the break, with his goal given after a lengthy VAR review that deemed him onside despite the flag initially going up. Then in stoppage-time, Gakpo got on the end of Jeremie Frimpong’s cross to net as he thought he’d delivered Liverpool their first win of 2026. But three minutes later, Fulham’s Harrison Read was afforded acres of space to shoot and fired home a thunderbolt from 35 yards to leave Liverpool crestfallen.
