Liverpool's preparations for their pivotal Premier League encounter with Arsenal have been overshadowed by a curious hint from within the club's own medical department. The Reds' head of physiotherapy, Lee Nobes, appears to have inadvertently signalled that striker Hugo Ekitike will be unavailable for the fixture.
The Fantasy Football Clue
The speculation emerged not from an official club statement, but from the virtual dugout of the Fantasy Premier League. Nobes, whose team is named 'DJs20', transferred Ekitike out of his line-up, replacing him with Brentford's Igor Thiago, whom he also appointed as captain.
This move was spotted by eagle-eyed fans on the Real Players League website, which lists teams from real-life Premier League players and staff. Nobes, who joined Liverpool from Manchester City in 2018 after an 11-year stint there, has been at the club for six years.
Context of the Injury Concern
The fantasy transfer aligns with growing concerns over Ekitike's fitness. The French forward missed Liverpool's recent 2-2 draw with Fulham at Craven Cottage after feeling discomfort during a training session.
Manager Arne Slot revealed that Ekitike travelled with the squad but underwent an MRI scan. The results, received while the team was flying, ruled out the initial hope that the issue was merely delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS).
Slot explained the situation, stating: "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."
Significant Blow for Liverpool
Ekitike's potential absence is a major setback for Liverpool. He has been a standout performer in a challenging season, contributing fourteen goals and assists across all competitions.
With fellow striker Alexander Isak already sidelined long-term with a broken leg, the attacking options are stretched. Cody Gakpo or Federico Chiesa are the most likely candidates to start in Ekitike's place if he is ruled out of the trip to the Emirates Stadium.
The match is a daunting prospect for the fourth-placed Reds, who trail league leaders Arsenal by a significant 14 points. While the club would undoubtedly prefer to control the narrative around player injuries, Nobes' fantasy management has provided a compelling, if unofficial, clue. Of course, there remains a slim possibility the transfer was purely a tactical FPL decision.
