Liverpool manager Arne Slot faces a selection headache ahead of Saturday's Premier League trip to Crystal Palace, with in-form striker Hugo Ekitike suspended following a red card in midweek. The Frenchman, who has scored five goals in eight appearances since his £79m summer move from Eintracht Frankfurt, was dismissed for a second bookable offence after removing his shirt in celebration during the League Cup win over Southampton.
Slot publicly criticised Ekitike's dismissal as 'stupid' and 'needless', and the 23-year-old will now serve a one-game ban. Ekitike had started all five of Liverpool's Premier League matches this season, as well as the Community Shield against the same opponents last month.
The obvious replacement would be club-record signing Alexander Isak, who joined from Newcastle United for £125m in the summer. However, the Swede is still being carefully managed after a disjointed pre-season and has not started a Premier League game or completed 90 minutes since the final day of last season. Slot has admitted he does not expect Isak to be back to near his best until after the October international break.
Isak started against Southampton in midweek but was withdrawn at half-time, and is unlikely to be ready for a full 90 minutes at Selhurst Park. If Slot opts to rest him, Federico Chiesa could lead the line. The Italian has impressed as a substitute in the Premier League, scoring a decisive goal against Bournemouth on the opening day, and was named man of the match against Southampton with two assists.
