Arne Slot learns Hugo Ekitike injury update ahead of Chelsea vs Liverpool

Hugo Ekitike could be fit for Liverpool's upcoming clash with Chelsea, following his inclusion in the French squad for their imminent international fixtures. The 23-year-old striker, who made his debut for France last month, is part of a 23-man team set to play World Cup qualifiers against Azerbaijan and Iceland.

Ekitike sparked worry when he sustained an injury while vying for the ball during the second half of Liverpool's1-0 Champions League loss to Galatasaray on Tuesday. After receiving extensive on-field treatment, he was substituted for Alexis Mac Allister.

Liverpool manager Arne Slot remained guarded about the severity of the issue, but it's believed that Ekitike felt he had only suffered from cramp and had dodged a major problem post-match.

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His subsequent call-up by France's head coach Didier Deschamps suggests that Ekitike, who has netted five goals in nine matches since his £79million transfer from Eintracht Frankfurt, may be in contention for Saturday's Premier League match at Chelsea. This comes as Liverpool aim to prevent a third consecutive defeat within a week.

The Reds are already missing Alisson Becker, who is undergoing scans for a hamstring injury picked up in Istanbul that could keep him out for a significant period. Additionally, young centre-back Giovanni Leoni is ruled out for the season after undergoing surgery this week to repair ACL damage, reports the Liverpool Echo.

However, Slot remains optimistic that Federico Chiesa will return to the squad after missing the midweek match due to a minor injury.

Chelsea, meanwhile, have a number of fitness concerns going into the match. The Blues will be without the likes of Cole Palmer, Levi Colwill, Liam Delap, Dario Essugo, Tosin Adarabioyo, Wesley Fofana and Andrey Santos, who are all injured, while Trevoh Chalobah will serve his one-match suspension following last weekend's sending off against Brighton.

The Reds are currently top of the Premier League, although Arsenal could leapfrog them with a win against West Ham on Saturday. A win against Chelsea would see Liverpool reclaim top spot, however, and Maresca's side will be intent on not letting that happen.