Arne Slot believes Hugo Ekitike’s run of 5 objectives in 4 matches signifies the striker has heeded the Liverpool supervisor’s recommendation in the case of bettering his health.
The 23-year-old scored on his first three appearances after becoming a member of from Eintracht Frankfurt however that achievement was considerably overshadowed by the £125 million ($169 million) arrival of Alexander Isak at Anfield.
Ekitike solely managed three objectives in his subsequent 17 matches because the British report signing struggled to become familiar with the repeated calls for of English soccer.
However with the injured Isak now set to be sidelined for a number of months and Liverpool star Mohamed Salah on the Africa Cup of Nations, the Merseyside membership want to the Frenchman to steer the road.
Slot believes a lot of Ekitike’s latest progress will be attributed to raised bodily situation, though the Dutch boss mentioned he needed to persuade the ahead that such work was wanted.
“He confirmed a whole lot of onerous work to get to this health stage the place he’s in the intervening time,” Slot mentioned forward of Saturday’s match at dwelling to basement membership Wolves.
“It typically took us –- me –- a little bit of convincing that this all is definitely wanted to grow to be stronger however he at all times did it, not at all times with a smile on his face however he has labored actually onerous to get fitter on and off the pitch.”
Slot added: “I’ve tried to persuade him as nicely, the higher you defend a set-piece the larger likelihood you must rating on the different finish, as a result of in case you are 0-0 it’s simpler to attain a purpose than in case you are 1-0 down.”
Reigning champions Liverpool are on a run of six video games unbeaten in all competitions, following a woeful sequence of 9 losses in 12 that left all of them however out of title rivalry this season.
They’re now fifth within the desk, however nonetheless 10 factors adrift of Premier League leaders Arsenal, with Slot adamant there has not been as huge a spot of their kind as prompt by these two runs.
“The primary factor that has modified is, aside from the second half in opposition to Brighton (2-0 win on December 13), we haven’t conceded that many probabilities as we did within the run we had earlier than,” he mentioned.
“I additionally assume we now have been a bit extra fortunate than within the video games earlier than as a result of we now have performed video games the place we have been so a lot better than the opposite groups.
“Within the final sport in opposition to Spurs (2-1 win final Saturday) I don’t assume we had many extra probabilities in opposition to them and in opposition to Brighton it was equal as nicely, and people two video games we gained.
“Many occasions we now have been so unfortunate with the consequence, nearly each time, however within the final two video games I wouldn’t say we didn’t deserve it however they have been extra equal video games than many others we now have performed which we misplaced.”
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