Hugo Ekitike has etched his name into Liverpool history alongside King Kenny Dalglish after a goalscoring return to action. The French forward came off the bench against Barnsley to complete a unique scoring set in his debut season. He has now found the net in five different competitions this term, a feat only achieved once before by the legendary Scot back in the 1977-78 campaign.

Arne Slot has confirmed that Hugo Ekitike faces a late fitness test ahead of Liverpool's showdown with Premier League leaders Arsenal. The forward has yet to train fully since missing the recent draw with Fulham, leaving his participation in doubt. The Reds boss admits his side have been too inconsistent this term but believes a win against the "complete package" of the Gunners could spark a revival.

Liverpool have explained why Hugo Ekitike does not form part of their matchday squad for a Premier League clash with Fulham. The Reds have seen their attacking options further depleted for a trip to Craven Cottage. They are already without Swedish frontman Alexander Isak, with the £125 million ($168m) striker nursing an injury, while Mohamed Salah is on Africa Cup of Nations duty.

Liverpool striker Hugo Ekitike admits it is "difficult" to know that he is playing regularly for the Reds because of Alexander Isak's leg fracture. The £125 million ($168m) signing from Newcastle scored against Tottenham but, in doing so, was challenged by Micky van de Ven, and has since been ruled out for a significant period due to a leg fracture that required surgery.

Liverpool extended their unbeaten run in the Premier League to seven games on New Year's Day but Arne Slot's ragged Reds continued to flatter to deceive in a drab 0-0 draw with Leeds United at Anfield. Hugo Ekitike and Florian Wirtz had looked lively in the opening half hour on Merseyside, with both going close to breaking the deadlock. However, the English champions had run out of ideas by the final quarter of a largely uneventful game and Leeds looked to have nicked all three points through in-form forward Dominic Calvert-Lewin - only for the former Everton striker to be flagged for offside after hooking the ball into the net.