Liverpool have enough problems to deal with before even thinking about the new injury crisis ravaging Arne Slot’s front line.
We aren’t far off Alexander Isak’s return, but an injury to Mo Salah before Brighton, and to Hugo Ekitike within ten minutes of play at the AmEx, have put the pressure on the fitness department at the AXA Training Centre.
It leaves Liverpool short in the forward areas. Desperately so.
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But a lifeline has been handed to Slot and co, in the form of an extremely well-timed international break. It could be what saves our season.
Liverpool have a wide recovery window after Brighton with international break
Liverpool have nowhere near enough attacking depth to survive the absences of their three best attackers.
Cody Gakpo is the only real striker stand-in, and that’s not his best position. It leaves Rio Ngumoha, Federico Chiesa as the winger options, with Jeremie Frimpong also capable of filling in.
That doesn’t sound like a front line that can compete in the late knockout rounds of the Champions League, nor finish in the top five.
Thankfully then, Liverpool have been given a stroke of luck with the timing of this injury crisis. The March international break gives the Reds breathing space to hopefully get their stars back fit.
We don’t yet know the extent of Ekitike’s issue, but Isak should return after the break and Slot hopes Salah will be back by then as well.
Hugo Ekitike is the most crucial of Liverpool’s sidelined stars
By any metric, the biggest loss is that of the young Frenchman.
Reason being, Isak will take time to get back up to speed even when he does return to the field, and Salah has been too inconsistent.
Ekitike has been outstanding for Liverpool. If you were to give me one potion of healing, it’s him who would be getting it without question.
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Of course, it would be ideal to have all three back. If that can be done in the next two weeks, I’d be feeling very confident about these final decisive games of the season.
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