{"id":389723,"date":"2026-01-25T13:09:14","date_gmt":"2026-01-25T13:09:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/389723\/"},"modified":"2026-01-25T13:09:14","modified_gmt":"2026-01-25T13:09:14","slug":"3-9m-defender-praise-why-slot-benched-ekitike","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/389723\/","title":{"rendered":"\u00a33.9m defender praise + why Slot benched Ekitike"},"content":{"rendered":"

From the benching of a big-money forward to praise for a \u00a33.9m defender, our Scout Notes cover the talking points from the Vitality Stadium.<\/p>\n

SLOT ON WHY HE BENCHED EKITIKE<\/p>\n

No prizes for guessing why Arne Slot demoted Hugo Ekitike (\u00a38.9m) to substitute duty on Saturday: minute management.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe thinking is quite simple. We have one number nine available for months to go. We\u2019ve played very many games already, a lot of games to play, so we have to manage his minutes to keep him available also for the long term. That\u2019s why Hugo is not starting today but Cody is.\u201d \u2013 Arne Slot, speaking ahead of kick-off<\/p>\n

The above quote pretty much confirms that Alexander Isak (\u00a310.3m) isn\u2019t going to be available any time soon.<\/p>\n

But not even Isak\u2019s absence, nor a two-striker set-up Liverpool have used this week, could save Ekitike from bench duty on the south coast. Cody Gakpo (\u00a37.3m) and Mohamed Salah (\u00a314.0m) instead were the pairing up top, and it\u2019s maybe going to be two from those three on a biweekly basis going forward \u2013 if the 4-2-2-2 is here to stay.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

It\u2019s not going to be just up front where the rotation risk is. Slot confirmed that Milos Kerkez (\u00a35.6m) was taken off at half-time because \u201cit was not smart to play him another 90 [minutes]\u201d, while Jeremie Frimpong (\u00a35.8m) was running on fumes before his withdrawal.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s mostly the same players who have to play. I think it\u2019s safe to say that a few of them were very tired at the end. I saw Jeremie [Frimpong] just before I took him off, almost falling over his own feet because he was tired. Some others were in the end tired as well.\u201d \u2013 Arne Slot<\/p>\n

GOMEZ INJURY UPDATE<\/p>\n

Already without Ibrahima Konate (\u00a35.4m) on compassionate grounds, Liverpool lost another centre-half on Saturday.<\/p>\n

Joe Gomez (\u00a34.9m) was injured as Liverpool conceded the opener, received treatment as Bournemouth scored their second, and then hobbled out of the game soon after. Wataru Endo (\u00a34.9m) came on at centre-back.<\/p>\n

It sounds more like a \u201cknock\u201d, at least, and Konate should be back for Gameweek 24.<\/p>\n

\u201cJoe got a knock from Ali [Alisson Becker]. His knee went into\u2026 I think it was bone on bone. He was just not able to continue and Ali had quite a swelling in his knee. I don\u2019t know if Joe is going to train in two or three days, that is difficult for me to say, but it was clear he could not go on today.\u201d \u2013 Arne Slot on Joe Gomez<\/p>\n

Virgil van Dijk (\u00a35.9m) was at fault for the goal that led to Gomez\u2019s injury, then played Alex Jimenez (\u00a34.5m) onside for the second. Despite the stinker, he\u2019s on course for his biggest FPL score of the season. The Dutchman nodded in a corner for his first league goal of 2025\/26, while he also looks set to get DefCon points after the next refresh:<\/p>\n

\"\"SZOBOSZLAI: GOOD THINGS COME TO THOSE WHO WAIT<\/p>\n

Mid-December adopters of Dominik Szoboszlai (\u00a36.6m) have had little to shout about. He\u2019d averaged 2.0 points per match between Gameweeks 16-22, also missing out in one of those weeks due to suspension.<\/p>\n

Those who kept the faith were rewarded on Saturday. An assist for Virgil\u2019s header was followed by another free-kick goal, giving him a 13-point haul.<\/p>\n

Set pieces, long-range attempts and minutes are pretty much it with Szoboszlai. He again didn\u2019t have a shot in the box (the 13th league match in 2025\/26 that that\u2019s happened), so you\u2019re reliant on the dead eye from distance.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Elsewhere in the Liverpool attack, the form player, Florian Wirtz (\u00a38.3m), was a little quieter but twice flashed efforts narrowly wide.<\/p>\n

Salah saw plenty of the ball (he had a Liverpool-best eight penalty box touches and three shots) but, not for the first time this season, was wasteful with it. He at least bagged an assist for Szoboszlai\u2019s free-kick.<\/p>\n

PRAISE FOR \u00a33.9M DEFENDER HILL<\/p>\n

Bournemouth\u2019s two centre-backs were at the heart of their three goals.<\/p>\n

Marcos Senesi\u2018s (\u00a34.8m) long ball set Alex Scott (\u00a35.0m) away to tee up Evanilson (\u00a37.0m) for the opener before James Hill (\u00a33.9m) played an excellent through-ball for Jimenez to run onto. For the winner, it was Hill\u2019s long throw that caused bedlam in the box, Amine Adli (\u00a35.4m) eventually prodding in.<\/p>\n

It sounds like budget defender Hill now has the monopoly on long throws.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think we have Antoine before, now we have James Hill. I don\u2019t think we have anyone else. So, I think it\u2019s good that Hilly can help us in those situations.\u201d \u2013 Andoni Iraola on James Hill\u2019s long throws<\/p>\n

The question is: can Hill keep his place in the side for this excellent run of matches?<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

This was his fifth successive league start. While there\u2019s not been a clean sheet in that time, the team performances have improved and he\u2019s looked composed at the back. It sounds like it\u2019s his place to lose.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u00a0think we\u2019ve been defending very well lately. I think even the other day against Brighton, we concede a stoppage-time equaliser but defending a lot lower. I think we are conceding less chances. I know probably we have still the set-play thing that we have to improve but I think Hilly is very good on the ball, is also someone who has played for us centre-back, number six, right-back, and he has taken his opportunity. At the end, he trains very well and normally when you train very well and you are there ready for your chance, I\u2019m very happy when you take it.\u201d \u2013 Andoni Iraola on James Hill<\/p>\n

Both Hill and Senesi (of course) banked DefCon points \u2013 that should have been five in a row for the \u00a33.9m defender, but the Opta refresh of the data in Gameweek 22 came too late.<\/p>\n

Jimenez, meanwhile, was \u2013 not for the first time \u2013 pushed forward \u2018out of position\u2019 to the right wing. A lack of fit natural wingers explained this decision.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

\u201cI think he has done a very good job as a winger. You know, I prefer him as a full-back, but I think he\u2019s in this moment helping us a lot a little bit forward and he\u2019s good.\u201d \u2013 Andoni Iraola on Alex Jimenez<\/p>\n

THREE IN FOUR FOR EVANILSON \u2013 BUT KROUPI PRAISED<\/p>\n

Evanilson bagged his third goal in four games here.<\/p>\n

He\u2019s a possible target for the upcoming good fixture run (a cheaper replacement for Ekitike?), although anyone buying him will have to get used to a lack of ruthlessness \u2013 he missed another two good opportunities here.<\/p>\n

The Brazilian\u2019s shot-to-goal conversion rate is just 11.4% over 2025\/26, even including the recent goal rush.<\/p>\n

The much cheaper Eli Junior Kroupi (\u00a34.6m) is the more natural finisher. He started for the third match in a row, although he\u2019s getting through a lot more defensive work in the \u201910\u2019. He\u2019s had just two shots in the last three Gameweeks.<\/p>\n

The graft has impressed Andoni Iraola, at least, and like Hill, it might be his shirt to lose. Versatile new boy Alex Toth (\u00a35.0m) \u2013 either as a direct replacement in the \u201910\u2019 or used deeper to allow Scott to move forward \u2013 is waiting in the wings.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m very happy with Jun, probably more happy than when he was scoring the goals because with his work rate and his understanding of the needs of the team, he\u2019s allowing us to play basically with two number nines. I think he has had to change his game a lot because I think he\u2019s a number nine and we are demanding a lot of work but I appreciate it a lot and I think he\u2019s playing as many minutes and he\u2019s getting so many starts because he\u2019s really helping us to be better. As you say, probably he will not appear well the same way if you don\u2019t score, but I think if we keep him on the pitch, it\u2019s a matter of time before he finds way to score because he\u2019s a great finisher.\u201d \u2013 Andoni Iraola on Eli Kroupi<\/p>\n

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