Hugo Ekitike (£9.1m) missed out for Liverpool on Sunday, as Arne Slot’s side played out a 2-2 draw with Fulham.
Here are our Scout Notes from Craven Cottage.
LOCK ON EKITIKE
Ekitike was not involved for Liverpool due to a minor hamstring injury caused by his recent workload.
Speaking to Sky Sports ahead of kick-off, Slot said:
“Alexander Isak has been out for a few weeks now. That has meant that Hugo has had to play more minutes than he has all season. That has led to him picking up a slight hamstring injury as we have had to play more and more minutes against him. For a player of his age and not quite used to the Premier League yet, that has been a bit too much. That’s why he will be out today and hopefully come back for the game against Arsenal, but that is certainly not certain.” not yet.” – Arne Slot about Hugo Ekitike
Slot provided more clarity about the issue after the match:
“Yes, [Hugo] traveled because he felt something during training, so he went for an MRI scan and we got the results as we flew. We hoped it was just a bit DUMB [Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness]which he also had. Why? Because Alex [Isak] has been away and since Alex has been away [Hugo] doesn’t play 70 minutes or 60 minutes or sometimes gets some rest. He has to play 80 or 90 minutes every game, for the first time in his life at Premier League level, for the first time in his life without a winter break, for the first time in his life at Champions League level. So it’s no surprise that he then gets a little tired and gets DOMS.
“We hoped it was only DOMS and that maybe we could have used him as a sub, but unfortunately we saw a little more and then you can’t take any risks. Florian [Wirtz] had the same thing last week when we put him in an MRI scan and there was only DOMS so he had nothing. But he is also experiencing this program for the first time and if I don’t have that many players, I would like to take the ones I have available and play as many minutes as possible, but realistically. That’s what I tried to do today.” – Arne Slot about Hugo Ekitike
Unfortunately for Ekitike’s owners, we’re unlikely to hear from Slot ahead of Gameweek 21, with Liverpool not in action until Thursday against Arsenal.
WIRTZ + GAKPO ON GOAL
With Ekitike and Alexander Isaac (£10.3m) sidelined due to injury, the job of leading the line fell Cody Agat (£7.3 million).
Behind the Dutchman Curtis Jones (£5.4m) played on the left, with Dominik Szoboszlai (£6.6m) on the right and Florian Wirtz (£8.2m), assuming the role of number 10/playmaker.
Above: Liverpool’s average position chart against Fulham, including Szoboszlai (No. 8), Wirtz (7), Jones (17) and Gakpo (18)
After a frustrating first half in which he hit the post with a header, Gakpo improved after the break and eventually found the net late on, pouncing on the substitute Jeremy Frimpong‘s (£5.7 million) cross.
In total, he scored five match-high shots, including two big chances.
As for Wirtz, he scored one controversial equalizer after an excellent approach played through Conor Bradley (£5.0 million).
Having failed to score or assist in any of his first 12 Premier League matches, the German has now made three attacking returns in four gameweeks, with a further 10 points added to his tally on Sunday.
Nevertheless, Slot’s concern over Wirtz’s fitness was again evident at Craven Cottage as he was substituted in the 75th minute, even though his team were chasing another goal.
ANOTHER WILSON RETURN
Marco Silva made three changes for Fulham, with his team fielding in a back three/five formation.
It also largely paid off, as the 3-4-2-1 system denied Liverpool space in the central areas.
They admittedly didn’t create much, generating just 0.74 expected goals (xG), but former Liverpool man Harry Wilson (£5.8m) was still able to fire the hosts up front.
After being played by Raul Jimenez (£6.2 million), the Welshman took a touch and drilled the ball into the bottom corner.
He also hit the woodwork late.
Wilson has now been directly involved in nine goals in his last eight games (four goals, five assists) and amassed 57 points in that span (Gameweeks 13-20), the most of any player except Phil Foden (£8.9 million).
“Our first goal was brilliant. The combinations, the opposing runs from Harry and Raul were top class, and what a finish from Harry too.
“Every time he touches the ball now, he can do something magical for us – and he did it again.” – Marco Silva on Harry Wilson
Replacement Harrison Reed (£4.3m) also scored, beautifully picking out the top corner from outside the box.
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