Arne Slot has offered Liverpool a timely fitness boost ahead of their FA Cup third-round tie, revealing Hugo Ekitike could make his return against Barnsley on Monday.
The French forward has been sidelined for the Reds’ last two outings against Fulham and Arsenal, but with Mohamed Salah and Alexander Isak still unavailable, Liverpool are pushing to have Ekitike fit in time to face the League One side.
While no guarantees have been made, Slot remains cautiously optimistic.
“That’s not 100 per cent sure but we will do everything to have him available on Monday,” said Slot.
The Liverpool boss also confirmed that Isak will remain out, while Wataru Endo is unlikely to feature after only recently returning to full training.
As a result, selection decisions will again test Slot’s squad management as fixtures continue to stack up.
Looking ahead to the FA Cup, Slot hinted at a stronger approach this season, particularly after Liverpool’s surprise exit to Plymouth in last year’s competition.
With the League Cup no longer in play, the Dutchman stressed the importance of taking the FA Cup seriously.
“Last season I made the decision that some players needed to rest in the FA Cup, because you cannot play every player every single time,” he said.
“But it’s obvious that we’re not in the League Cup anymore, and the FA Cup has always been very important for us.”
He added: “Sometimes in a season where you are still competing for the Champions League and the league, with the amount of players we had last season and this season, you have to make choices.
“But I can guarantee you that one day you will see all the players you saw today [against Arsenal], maybe with some substitutions, but then they will be on the bench.”
Among those pushing for a start is Federico Chiesa, who has seen increased involvement in recent weeks. Slot confirmed the Italian remains firmly in contention.
“I spoke to him two days ago and he said to me that he played more in the recent weeks than he ever did before under me,” said the gaffer.
“He is one of the players that could feature in that game, definitely. But like I said, Hugo might be back, so let’s see how we will start that game.”
As Liverpool prepare to enter the FA Cup spotlight, all eyes will be on team selection and whether Ekitike’s return can provide the attacking lift Slot is hoping for.
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