Arne Slot causes Liverpool frustration ahead of the big match against Man City

Hugo Ekitike recently candidly spoke about his relationship with coach Arne Slot, admitting that the Dutch manager's strict standards sometimes make him “frustrated.”

Joining Liverpool from Eintracht Frankfurt last summer for a fee of £79 million, Ekitike quickly became a successful signing at Anfield. However, he also acknowledged that his relationship with coach Arne Slot hasn’t always been smooth.

In an interview with Daily Mail Sport, the French striker revealed that Slot frequently demands more effort from him off the ball and openly criticized him after a red card in the match against Southampton in September. At that time, Ekitike scored the decisive goal in the third round of the English League Cup but was sent off after removing his shirt in celebration, which resulted in a second yellow card.

Nonetheless, Ekitike insists he views the coach’s strictness as a positive. He admitted: “As a player, sometimes you feel annoyed, that’s true. But I know he only wants the best for me and the team. He always watches over me, not in a negative way, but because he wants me to improve.”

He added: “Actually, if a coach didn’t care, they wouldn’t say anything to you. So, the fact that he gives feedback and asks me to try harder is a good thing. Sometimes I feel a bit frustrated but looking back, everything he says helps me get better.”

When asked specifically about Slot’s demands, Ekitike laughed: “First of all… keep your shirt on! But mainly, he wants me to improve my pressing ability and help defend when out of possession. I’m working on that and things will gradually improve; it’s all about effort without the ball.”

Ekitike’s explosive form at Liverpool somewhat stalled after the club signed Alexander Isak from Newcastle for £125 million. The Swedish striker, who has extensive Premier League experience, temporarily took Ekitike’s starting spot.

The two have only started together once, in Liverpool’s 5-1 victory over Eintracht Frankfurt, Ekitike’s former club. However, that match was interrupted when Isak suffered a groin injury and had to sit out for three weeks.

In the high-profile clash against Manchester City at 11:30 PM tonight (Nov 9), Isak’s chances of starting are slim due to his injury. This means Ekitike will most likely be Liverpool’s sole striker.

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