Liverpool is currently enduring a lacklustre 2025-26 season, plagued by injuries to players such as Alexander Isak and Wataru Endo. And, Reds head coach Arne Slot claimed ahead of his side’s 2-2 league draw at Fulham that Hugo Ekitike has also recently joined the injury list.
Liverpool Boss Reveals Details of Hugo Ekitike’s Recent Injury
During a pre-match interaction with the media, Slot was asked to shed light on why Ekitike was left out of Liverpool’s squad for the match against Fulham at Craven Cottage on Sunday, Jan. 4.
“Alexander Isak has been out for a few weeks now, and that has meant Hugo has had to play more minutes than he did throughout the whole season. That has led to the fact that he picked up a slight hamstring injury because we had to play him more and more minutes,” Slot responded.
Slot, who opted to hand Cody Gakpo a start in a number nine role against Fulham, added, “For a player that is his age and is not used to the Premier League completely, that has been a bit too much. That is why he is out today and hopefully will be back for the Arsenal game, but that is not sure yet.”
Ekitike, who turned 23 in June 2025, has proven to be quite a difference-maker for Liverpool in the ongoing 2025-26 season. He has scored eight goals, most by any Reds player this season, and provided two assists in 1137 minutes of club action, spread across 18 overall outings.
READ MORE: Mohamed Salah’s Former Team Plotting Move To Re-Sign Him
Should the Liverpool summer signing fail to recover before his team’s league encounter at Arsenal on Thursday, Jan. 8, the Reds would continue with Gakpo as their striker. They are also currently without Mohamed Salah, who is competing in the Africa Cup of Nations at present.
Liverpool Eyeing Move for Belgian Pro League Star
According to The Mirror, Liverpool is expected to announce the signing of Club Brugge ace Joel Ordóñez in the coming days. They are set to pay the Belgian Pro League club an initial fee of $47 million and $11 million in potential add-ons to secure the defender’s signature.
Ordonez, 21, has established himself as a crucial starter for Brugge since arriving from his boyhood club Independiente del Valle in the summer of 2022. The Ecuadorian centre-back has registered four goals and two assists in 105 overall outings for his current club so far.
With Giovanni Leoni out injured and Ibrahima Konate in the final six months of his Liverpool deal, Ordonez could prove to be both a short-term and long-term signing for the Reds.
