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Evening Standard
Evening Standard
Sport
Tashan Deniran-Alleyne

Liverpool set for double boost as Arne Slot provides Hugo Ekitike and Federico Chiesa injury updates

Hugo Ekitike is set to be available for Liverpool against Chelsea - (Liverpool FC via Getty Images)

Arne Slot has confirmed that Hugo Ekitike is in contention to face Chelsea in the Premier League this weekend.

Ekitike, named in the France squad on Thursday for the World Cup qualifiers against Azerbaijan and Iceland later this month, was forced off in the second half against Galatasaray in midweek.

That compounded a miserable night in the Champions League for Liverpool as they also lost goalkeeper Alisson Becker to hamstring injury and fell to defeat in Istanbul.

However, while the Brazilian will not be in the squad for Saturday’s trip to the capital, Ekitike will have the chance to prove his fitness in training on Friday.

Furthermore, Federico Chiesa - who missed the Galatasaray clash with a minor niggle - is also expected to train ahead of the Chelsea game.

Speaking in the pre-match press conference, Slot said: "Hugo is going to train today again and let's see where he is.

"The same can be said for Federico, so we have to wait and see after the session."

Hugo Ekitike limped off during Liverpool’s defeat to Galatasaray (Liverpool FC via Getty Images)

Liverpool go into the game against Chelsea on the back of successive defeats to Crystal Palace and Galatasaray.

Hoping to avoid a third straight loss which could see the current Premier League champions relinquish top spot in the table, Slot has called on his side to show improvements.

"The reaction after losing two games in a row you can argue if that is positive,” the Dutchman added. “But what I saw was a team playing until the last minute trying to get a result.

"We were different to the Palace game, winning second balls, we were like in the Palace game close to a result. I've said many times last season the margins are so small.

“That's the same this season again. We are trying to find ways to be better and not just rely on luck or a set-piece or something.”

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