According to Arne Slot, Liverpool's decision to sign two centre-forwards during the summer has proven to be a smart move. This comes after Hugo Ekitike suffered a devastating injury, rupturing his right Achilles tendon during the Champions League loss to Paris Saint-Germain. As a result, Ekitike will miss the remainder of the season and the World Cup with France, potentially sitting out a significant portion of the next campaign as well.
The injury's timing is unfortunate for Slot, especially since Alexander Isak has only just returned from his own long-term layoff. Isak started his first match since December in the 2-0 loss to Paris Saint-Germain but struggled to make an impact and was substituted at halftime. Slot expressed his support for Ekitike, stating that his first thoughts are with the player, who will be out for an extended period and will miss special moments.
However, Slot remains optimistic, citing examples of players who have come back stronger after injuries. He believes Ekitike could be one of those players, potentially performing at an even higher level in the future. Slot also acknowledged that signing two No 9s has proven to be a good decision, as it provides the team with more options.
He joked that people are now questioning whether they should sign another No 9. The team's focus is on securing Champions League football, starting with the upcoming Merseyside derby against Everton. Despite the 2-0 defeat to Paris Saint-Germain, Slot remains positive about the team's future, pointing to their ability to have more ball possession and generate shots against a team that typically dominates possession. He believes that with some changes, including the potential departure of Robbo and Mo, the future looks bright for the team.