Liverpool boss Arne Slot has been handed a welcome double fitness boost.
The Reds went into the international break with concerns over a number of senior players, including Hugo Ekitike after he limped off in the first half against Brighton last weekend.
Ekitike appeared to be in considerable pain after lasting just nine minutes at the Amex Stadium, leaving the pitch in tears which suggested a serious injury had been sustained.
Speaking after his side’s 2-1 loss to Brighton, Slot confirmed the knock was bad enough for the Frenchman to not to be able to continue, though allayed any fears of a potential lengthy lay-off.
“A dead leg, as you call it here I think,” the Dutch said in the post-match press conference: “Hugo, I think he could play tomorrow if he needed to.”
Ekitike was able to join up with the France national team for their double-header against Brazil and Colombia, scoring against the former before making a second half appearance in the latter.
The forward appears to have come through both games unscathed, thus proving his fitness ahead of the FA Cup quarter-final against Manchester City on April 4 and the Champions League quarter-final first leg tie with former club Paris Saint-Germain four days later.
Ibrahima Konate, meanwhile, played the full 90 minutes for France against Brazil and then earned a complete rest for the 3-1 win over Colombia in the United States.
The central defender missed Liverpool’s 1-1 draw at home to Tottenham due to “discomfort in his hamstring”.
“Yeah, he is at this moment of time [ready to play],” Slot confirmed ahead of the 4-0 thumping of Galatasaray in the Champions League last-16 second leg.
“The day after the game is recovery, if you play so many games with only two days of rest in between you cannot do a lot but he is declared completely fit, he doesn’t feel the discomfort anymore.”
