Ekitike remains doubtful for Arsenal trippublished at 12:24 GMT
12:24 GMT
Aadam Patel Liverpool reporter
Image source, Getty Images
At the moment, Hugo Ekitike looks like a major doubt for the game against Arsenal on Thursday [20:00 GMT]. The understanding is that it will not be a lengthy injury but Liverpool simply do not want to risk him, especially with Alexander Isak out and Mohamed Salah away at Afcon.
Boss Arne Slot said that Ekitike has not trained this week so any involvement in the game will depend on how the France striker comes through preparation on Wednesday
Facing leaders Arsenal would be even tougher without Liverpool's top scorer, with Slot full of praise for the league leaders and describing Mikel Arteta's side as the "complete package".
However, the Reds did beat the Gunners at Anfield earlier in the season with Slot insisting his side have the required talent even if they have lacked consistency this season.
Nevertheless, that being said, Liverpool could make it 10 games unbeaten if they avoid defeat at Emirates Stadium and, while some fans have called out his current style of play such an unbeaten run can only be a positive.
Slot on Ekitike, inconsistency & fan comments on stylepublished at 10:51 GMT
10:51 GMT
Nicola Pearson BBC Sport journalist
Media caption,
Liverpool boss Arne Slot has been speaking to the media before Thursday's Premier League game against Arsenal at Emirates Stadium (kick-off 20:00 GMT).
Here are the key lines from his news conference:
Hugo Ekitike remains doubtful for the game. He is not expected to be "out for long" but is "in between" training with the team and having extra rest.
Slot said Liverpool have had "two draws too many" in their current unbeaten run and, despite not being where they want to be right now, he insisted they can do "special things" once the squad is fully fit: "I think we've also shown that this season because we've got quite a lot of impressive wins. But we've also had impressive draws and losses - in the negative way."
He still believes his team can have a special season because others have shown it is possible to win other trophies even when league form is not the greatest.
On some fans calling his style of play "dull and boring": "I find it really hard to hear, but it isn't that I completely disagree with them. I would use different words and I would take certain things into account. I want to win as many trophies as I can, but I think I'm also known for the fact that my teams always try to play attacking football. I can only say that we are still trying to do so."
He added: "One thing I would like is to win a lot of games, but also play attractive football and I think we have this season. We need to find ways to play against teams who don't play that attractive football. We need to find answers and haven't found enough yet."
Slot said his team's inconsistency is "annoying" but reiterated there is "definitely a reason for it". He did not elaborate on why, saying people would "tell me I'm making our opponents wiser".
Slot acknowledged opponents Arsenal "deserve to be on top this season". He was asked what beating them would do for Liverpool's belief: "It would mean a lot because if you win games like these, it tells you that you can compete in the latter stages of the FA Cup and the Champions League. We've shown that we can do this already because we have already beaten Arsenal at home, and I can also come up with many other games that we've won against many other strong teams."
Finally, on Liverpool's interest in Crystal Palace defender Marc Guehi and the future of Harvey Elliott, currently on loan at Aston Villa, Slot simply insisted he "does not talk about players that are not ours".
'Fans will not stand for this dire football all season'published at 09:46 GMT 6 January
09:46 GMT 6 January
Jordan Chamberlain Fan writer
Image source, Getty Images
Liverpool have stopped losing matches - Arne Slot's team are unbeaten in nine, with the most recent defeat coming back in November against PSV Eindhoven.
On that night, Liverpool were humiliated 4-1 at Anfield and Slot clearly made a decision to go far more defensive - knowing any more losses could cost him his job.
In credit to him, the defence has largely shored up. We are not conceding tons of chances any more. We are not completely open in the midfield. Sometimes the odd set-piece gets through and we are slow to close down opposition shots, but it is not criminal.
In this period, we have packed the midfield, making Curtis Jones a key player and - before he went to the Afcon - taking Mohamed Salah out of the team.
The problem is, it is not half boring. The 2-2 with Fulham was slightly more entertaining than the 0-0 with Leeds United, but the creativity, speed and intricacy in the final third is really lacking.
We pass the ball around in the horseshoe shape for minutes at a time without a hint of a chance coming. The forwards are not making good runs and the play is so stodgy.
The issue recently is not just the results because we can afford to draw a few if we are aiming for a Champions League finish. It's the painfully slow tempo and lack of intensity.
Slot needs to change something. Liverpool fans will not stand for this dire football all season.
Meanwhile, Juventus have started talks with the Reds over a loan move for Federico Chiesa, with the forward open to a return to the Serie A club where he spent two seasons between 2022 and 2024. (La Gazzetta dello Sport - in Italian), external
Why was Wirtz's goal given onside through VAR?published at 10:29 GMT 5 January
10:29 GMT 5 January
Dale Johnson Football issues correspondent
Image source, Getty Images
It is a little known fact but there has been a 5cm tolerance in VAR offside technology since the start of 2021-22.
It was added because of inaccuracies in the technology. Think of it as giving the benefit of the doubt to the attacker.
So goals that are very marginally offside can be given onside through VAR – regardless of the on-field decision.
At the time, referees' body Professional Game Match Officials (PGMO) estimated it could lead to an additional 20 goals a season.
When semi-automated offside came in the other top flights like Germany, Spain and Italy removed the tolerance level. The new tech was seen as more accurate.
England opted to keep the tolerance level feeling it was more in the spirit of the game.
Yet Wirtz looked more than 5cm offside when he scored in Liverpool's 2-2 draw at Fulham on Sunday, so why was the goal allowed? It is all about frame choice.
There is no chip in the ball in any league, only in tournaments like the World Cup and the Euros. So the VAR is offered three frames and chooses the first which shows contact in the act of playing the ball. It is not when the ball leaves the foot.
In Wirtz's case, the VAR has chosen one frame, and TV broadcasters the next frame. Wirtz is more clearly offside in the second one.
Conor Bradley played the pass to Wirtz. His boots are dark in the front half, not fully white. This can be misleading.
Unlike in other competitions, the animation in the Premier League is not knitted to real-life footage. This means the chosen frame is not clear.
Why does the animation not move in line with the players? It is the tolerance level again. Otherwise a player given onside could break through the line.
Fulham 2-2 Liverpool - the fans' verdictpublished at 07:49 GMT 5 January
07:49 GMT 5 January
Media caption,
We asked for your thoughts after Sunday's Premier League match between Fulham and Liverpool.
Here are some of your comments:
Fulham fans
James: What a game. We deserved the well-fought point in a great performance against the champions. We're on very good form without many of our key players. What a goal from Harrison Reed at the end!
Josh: First half, Fulham were too passive - Liverpool may have been there for the taking. They have good players who should be taking the game to teams when they are at home. PS: I think Harrison Reed is the best player in the world!
John: Immensely proud of a very depleted squad. Five or six first teamers missing. Well done!
Liverpool fans
Paul: It's one disappointing performance after another. We pressed for the equaliser, got it and then allowed Fulham to come back strongly. I feel Chiesa should be allowed more minutes and I would have put Ngumoha on in the second half. It doesn't look promising for them when we're chasing a win given Ekiteke, Salah and Isak were all unavailable. I worry we might get thumped on Thursday.
Dazzer: Gakpo's goal should have been the winner. Not an acceptable ending for Liverpool, but well done Fulham, who are a tough team to beat.
Ken: I thoroughly dislike the identity of this Liverpool team. Are Slot and his staff coaching them to be this feeble and pedestrian? Then, after somehow getting ahead, what kind of defending is that? How can any professional footballer be left unattended 30-35 yards from goal without anyone in close proximity to challenge? Beginning to lose patience with this team and Slot. Unless there's a marked change soon, it may be time to part ways in the summer.
Analysis: Reds much better after the breakpublished at 18:40 GMT 4 January
18:40 GMT 4 January
Aadam Patel Liverpool reporter
Image source, Getty Images
The first signs of concern came when there was no Hugo Ekitike coming off the Liverpool coach upon arrival.
Arne Slot confirmed the striker had a slight hamstring problem but is expected to be available when Liverpool return to the capital to play leaders Arsenal on Thursday.
Without a focal point, Liverpool were woeful in a first half in which they did not have a shot on target. At half-time, Slot's side had gone four successive halves without scoring.
Credit must be given because they were a lot more direct after the break with Conor Bradley doing superbly to create Florian Wirtz's goal and Jeremie Frimpong coming off the bench to tee up Cody Gakpo.
Liverpool should have seen the game out, but their recent luck was summed up when Harrison Reed scored a contender for goal of the season, even if the Reds were perhaps guilty of allowing the 30-year-old time to get his shot away.
Fulham 2-2 Liverpool: What Slot and Gakpo saidpublished at 17:58 GMT 4 January
17:58 GMT 4 January
Media caption,
Watch Slot's chat with BBC Match of the Day
Arne Slot spoke to Sky Sports after Liverpool's draw against Fulham: "In an away game, scoring two goals should maybe be enough to win the game. It's not for the first time this season that we fight so hard and think we have a win but concede an incredible strike. We brought Joe Gomez in but they took it short. We missed out on a good result.
"We had our chances in the first half. We had a similar one with Cody Gakpo that they scored from. In an ideal world, we see a Liverpool team that is dominant but creates more chances. We scored two goals, scored two disallowed goals and hit the bar. Again, it wasn't enough.
"The players are giving everything they have. I have to keep in mind that I have to keep them available. Alexander Isak is out and I have to overload or play Hugo more, a player who has never played in the Premier League. You have to manage that. We still have 11 very good players on the pitch.
"It's not only for us, but many teams don't create chances every game. It's not perfect but at least we've created a few more chances today than last week."
Cody Gakpo spoke to BBC Match of the Day: "It's disappointing for us. We fought very hard in the second half, dominated at moments and tried to create chances to get through. At the end I scored in minute 95, they scored in minute 97 - a wonderful goal to be fair. Unlucky, unfortunate.
"This is a moment that can happen in a game. I was just sitting down so I did not see the moments before. I just saw him take a touch and shoot the ball into the top corner.
"I think if you are going to analyse the game maybe we should have scored more goals or defended the two goals better. In the end we should do much better. There were moments that we showed how good we were but it is up to us to stay consistent and put in overall better performances. I'm sure the wins will come again."
On playing in the nine: "As a forward player you always want to score goals to help the team so it's a plus for me. In the end it's a team sport and we didn't win so I'm still disappointed."
You can also listen to today's 5 Live Premier League commentaries on most smart speakers. Just say "ask BBC Sounds to play Fulham v Liverpool" or "ask BBC Sounds to play Tottenham v Sunderland", for instance.
Sutton's predictions: Fulham vs Liverpoolpublished at 11:06 GMT 4 January
11:06 GMT 4 January
Fulham did really well over Christmas, especially when you consider they have lost key players to the African Cup of Nations.
Liverpool must be massively disappointed with their display and result against Leeds, after the upturn in their performances in the past couple of weeks.
Like a lot of teams, Arne Slot's side are maybe short of energy at such a busy time of year and are lacking the spark they need.
They lost here last season and Fulham will fancy a repeat result. I'm not sure about that, but I do think Marco Silva's side will get something from the game.
Plenty more to come from Wirtz - Frimpongpublished at 12:49 GMT 3 January
12:49 GMT 3 January
Image source, Getty Images
Liverpool full-back Jeremie Frimpong has praised fellow summer signing Florian Wirtz for handling the pressure since his £116m move from Bayer Leverkusen in June.
The duo, who were key members of Leverkusen's title-winning side in 2024, have not started a Premier League game together since Liverpool's opening-day victory against Bournemouth in August - largely down to Frimpong's injury troubles
"When I heard he was coming [to Liverpool], it put a smile on my face," Frimpong told the media. "We basically started our Leverkusen careers together and we're starting our Liverpool career together as well.
"[Off the pitch] we talk, obviously, but sometimes we stay at home. Sometimes we link up, go to town, go to a restaurant. We do normal things.
"I know how good of a player Flo is. Like I've said in plenty of interviews, if it wasn't for him I wouldn't have won a treble with Leverkusen. We know how good he is and to see him doing it now, this is just the start. There's plenty more to come from him.
"I think he is the type of player that doesn't care about things [like] the price tag. He's just happy to play football.
"I think Flo takes pressure really well. He's just a guy that loves the ball at his feet. When he plays, he's just enjoying it. I don't think he cares about all this. He knows how good he is. He just wants to play."
Fulham v Liverpool: Key stats and talking pointspublished at 12:44 GMT 3 January
12:44 GMT 3 January
Tom McCoy BBC Sport journalist
Fulham beat Liverpool 3-2 at Craven Cottage last season and are vying for back-to-back Premier League home wins against the Reds for the first time since 2007. BBC Sport examines some of the key themes before Sunday's match (15:00 GMT).
Left-hand side of the pitch profitable for Fulham
Tom Cairney's 80th-minute equaliser earned Fulham a point at Crystal Palace on Thursday, ensuring Marco Silva's men head into the new year with plenty of momentum. The Cottagers have collected 19 points from 10 games since the start of November, a run bettered only by the league's top three – Arsenal, Manchester City and Aston Villa.
Silva felt his side "probably deserved more" from the trip to Selhurst Park. Fulham dominated after the break and registered 17 shots in total, their joint-highest tally in an away league match this season. Their expected goals figure of 1.91 was also their second best on the road in 2025-26.
Much of Fulham's threat came down the left, where Kevin, Antonee Robinson and Emile Smith Rowe combined to good effect. In fact, 45.4% of their attacking touches against the Eagles were on that flank – a key feature of their tactical approach this season.
Across the entire campaign, the Whites have directed 41.7% of their attacks via the left-hand side, with only Bournemouth (42.8%) more reliant on that flank.
Slot seeks spark for Reds
Liverpool's final match of 2025 ended in a drab stalemate with Leeds, the Merseysiders' first goalless draw in 117 league and cup games. While Hugo Ekitike missed a golden chance to break the deadlock (and was unfortunate not to be awarded a penalty), the Reds gradually ran out of ideas and managed just one shot on target in the second half.
Head coach Arne Slot admitted on Friday "we find it quite hard to generate enough chances for all the possession we have", adding "sometimes you need a bit of magic to unlock a game, or a set-piece". But the Dutchman predicts the match against Fulham will be more open as the Cottagers "will try to attack a lot and want to have the ball a lot".
Recent meetings suggest he's right – the last four Premier League encounters between the sides have produced a total of 20 goals, with both teams scoring at least twice in three of those games.
Slot failed to beat Fulham in his first season in charge, drawing 2-2 at Anfield and losing the return fixture 3-2 in April. However, that is Liverpool's only defeat at Craven Cottage since 2011.
MLS interest as Emery sees 'no future' for Elliott at Villapublished at 18:07 GMT 2 January
18:07 GMT 2 January
Aadam Patel Football reporter
Image source, Getty Images
BBC Sport understands that Charlotte FC, the MLS side managed by Dean Smith, are interested in Liverpool's Harvey Elliott but the 22-year-old isn't overly keen on moving to America.
Given the injury problems at Anfield, it is not impossible that Elliott, who is on loan at Aston Villa, ends the window as a Liverpool player but the stance on Merseyside is that this is very much Villa's problem to solve.
There is no recall clause in the current deal and Liverpool are only expected to engage if an approach was initiated by Villa for Elliott to return to Anfield. If that was the case, Villa would be expected to pay a fee to terminate the loan and potentially contribute to Elliott's wages.
When Elliott made the loan move in the summer, Liverpool budgeted accordingly with the understanding that a £35m move would become permanent in the summer of 2026. The deal stated that once Elliott made 10 appearances for Villa, there would be an obligation to make the transfer permanent.
Liverpool boss Arne Slot was asked recently if the club had explored the possibility of bringing Elliott back and he said: "No, Harvey is an Aston Villa player and he's supposed to be going there for a season."
Despite only making five appearances and not playing since October, Elliott has conducted himself well at Villa, but Emery has made it clear that he sees no future for the Englishman in Birmingham, so a solution is expected before the end of the window.
Image source, Getty Images
