Arne Slot press conference LIVE - Hugo Ekitike, Alisson Becker and Liverpool injury latest

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SportFootballLiverpool FCLIVEUpdated 2 mins agoLive coverage of Liverpool head coach Arne Slot's press conference to preview Sunday's Merseyside derby against Everton at Hill Dickinson StadiumArne Slot will speak at his Liverpool press conference this morning Welcome to our live coverage of Liverpool head coach Arne Slot's press conference to preview Sunday's Merseyside derby against Everton at Hill Dickinson Stadium. The Reds boss will be with us a 9am.But before Slot is quizzed about Liverpool's first-ever trip to Everton's new home, he is likely to be asked for his reaction to the devastating that top goalscorer Hugo Ekitike is set for a lengthy spell on the sidelines with an Achilles tendon rupture.The striker sustained the serious injury in Tuesday's Champions League quarter-final second-leg 2-0 home loss to Paris Saint-Germain, which ends the Reds' hopes of silverware this season.The defending champions must now focus on sealing a top-five finish in the Premier League to secure qualification for next season's Champions League.And they would go a long way to achieving that with victory at their city rivals.As well as questions about the Blues, expect Slot to be asked over the fitness of Alexander Isak, who was restricted to 45 minutes against PSG in midweek, and whether first-choice goalkeeper Alisson Becker is any close to a return from a hamstring injury.Ian Doyle is at the AXA Training Centre to bring you live updates from the press conference.‌Today08:36 BSTWhat's on the agenda?Paul Gorst, our Liverpool correspondent, is on a day off today, but he signed off by writing this article on what Arne Slot will be likely to be quizzed about this morning.You can read the article HERE.Today08:30 BSTFive players could miss Everton - including Alisson BeckerHugo Ekitike joins fellow long-term injuries victims Giovanni Leoni, Conor Bradley and Wataru Endo on the sidelines.They will all miss the match against Everton and there is a doubt over first-choice goalkeeper Alisson Becker, too.The Brazil international has been out with a hamstring injury for a month and, while he is expected to return to action this month, it remains to be seen whether he will be fit to face the Blues.Today08:30 BSTHugo Ekitike injuryIt doesn't take a genius to predict that the first question Arne Slot will face this morning regard Hugo Ekitike.Liverpool confirmed the news every supporter was fearing yesterday when they released a statement revealing that their top goalscorer had suffer rupture of the Achilles tendon in the midweek Champions League loss to Paris Saint-Germain at Anfield.The statement in full read: "Liverpool FC can confirm Hugo Ekitike has sustained a serious Achilles injury."The forward had to be substituted during the first half of Tuesday's Champions League match against Paris Saint-Germain at Anfield after a slip on the turf."Scans on the issue have subsequently confirmed a rupture of the Achilles tendon."Ekitike will therefore be sidelined for the remaining weeks of the club season and unable to participate at this summer's World Cup with France."Further updates will be provided at the appropriate time, with Hugo receiving the full support of everyone at LFC."Today08:30 BSTGood morning And welcome to our live coverage of Arne Slot's latest press conference.

The Liverpool head coach will be with us at 9am.Slot is staging it, of course, primarily to talk about the little matter of Sunday's Merseyside derby at Hill Dickinson Stadium against Everton.It's set to be an historic match given it is the first time the city rivals have gone head to head at the Blues' new waterfront home.And there's a lot riding on it, with the Reds hoping to cement their place in the Premier League top five and their rivals hoping to get closer to gatecrashing it.