Arne Slot: Liverpool boss jokes they look ‘sensible’ for signing two No…

Arne Slot: Liverpool boss jokes they look ‘sensible’ for signing two No…

Liverpool now look “smart” for signing two centre-forwards this summer time, according to Arne Slot, who has backed Hugo Ekitike to return again stronger than ever after his “devastating” injury.

The Liverpool striker will miss the remainder of this season and the World Cup with France, and will also be compelled to take a seat out a considerable portion of the next campaign after rupturing his proper Achilles tendon during Tuesday’s Champions League loss to Paris Saint-Germain.

The timing of Ekitike’s injury is unlucky for Slot, with Alexander Isak only just coming back from his personal long-term lay-off.

The summer time signing began his first match since December in Tuesday’s 2-0 loss however struggled to influence the game and was substituted at half-time.

Slot said: “It’s devastating for him [Ekitike] coming to a new club and having an influence.

“My first thoughts are with him being out for such a long time and missing out on special moments. He’s not the first or last to experience this. There are so many examples of players that came back even stronger – that’s his challenge. He could be one of those in 10-15 years time that will say the injury made him stronger and to perform at an even higher level than before.”

Slot added: “First of all, it’s a good factor we now have signed two No 9s, because there have been a whole lot of people who had been debating why we did.

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“We thought maybe it’s a smart idea not to be the only club in the world that has only one No 9. Now people are maybe questioning if we should sign another No 9.

“Someone said to me the day after [PSG], you can’t write the script that, on the day Alex is again after 4 months, the other one leaves the pitch with a long-term injury. It is an effective factor Alex is again now even more, however we also know he’s not able to play 90 [minutes] yet.”

Slot: The future is brilliant

Image:
Everton vs Liverpool is live on Sky Sports on Sunday

Liverpool’s sole focus is on securing Champions League soccer, beginning with Sunday’s crunch Merseyside derby with Everton, live on Sky Sports.

Slot believes Tuesday’s performance against PSG factors to a optimistic future despite the 2-0 defeat

“We were able to have more ball possession, to generate 21 shots, to have a high xG against a team that is used to the fact they dominate ball possession,” he said.

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“Even if you take into account that Hugo had to go off after 30 minutes, Alex had to go off at half-time. If you would see them playing over 90 minutes in their best shape, then this team has already shown, as they did in so many other moments, that they can compete with the best teams in Europe.

“That tells you this is already a really strong team however it takes some modifications with Robbo [Andy Robertson] and Mo [Salah] leaving – however the future seems brilliant for us.

“We are a trading club so let’s first see what’s actually going to happen in the summer.”

‘No slip-ups now for Liverpool in run-in’

Analysis from Liverpool’s press convention from Sky Sports News reporter Vinny O’Connor:

“Devastating for him,” was how Arne Slot summed up the news that Hugo Ekitike has ruptured his proper achilles tendon.

Along with affirmation that Liverpool’s top goalscorer across all competitions is still to be operated on, there was a prediction that he’ll come again stronger and even more able to carry out at the highest level. Something Liverpool as a complete have only managed in suits and begins this season.

Image:
Hugo Ekitike suffered a suspected Achilles injury against PSG

Again there was a reiteration from Slot that the future is brilliant. There will likely be modifications in the summer time, not least because Mo Salah and Andy Robertson are confirmed departures, and, without speaking numbers, Slot spoke about the choices they are dealing with as to how one can go about that. Kostas Tsimikas is due again from his mortgage, for occasion, and has a yr left on his contract, while in seeking to exchange Salah do they go like for like or look at one thing different?

It was half tongue in cheek however, given the debate over whether or not Liverpool had been proper to signal two No 9s last summer time, there was an acknowledgment that already the query is being requested if they want to usher in another striker.

Shorter time period what Slot does must ship is Champions League soccer next season.

In that respect the win over Fulham has given Liverpool some respiratory house before the first Merseyside derby at Hill Dickinson.

Last season he confronted an Everton aspect determined to not lose the last derby at Goodison and there is a similarity in motivation with this being Liverpool’s first go to to their new house.

For Slot, however, the backside line is that issues can change rapidly in soccer and a slip up this weekend builds stress yet again in the race for Champions League qualification.

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