Hugo Ekitike has just handed ‘brilliant’ Liverpool academy star the perfect chance to shine

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Hugo Ekitike has handed Arne Slot a selection headache ahead of Liverpool’s trip to Crystal Palace in the Premier League.

The Frenchman is suspended for the clash after he rather foolishly took off his shirt to celebrate the Reds’ second goal in the Carabao Cup, whilst already on a yellow card, and received his marching orders.

There has been plenty of speculation since Tuesday as to why Ekitike let his emotions boil over, but nevertheless, his absence will be a huge loss for Slot.

Alexander Isak opened his account for the Reds on the night, but as Slot has consistently said since the Swede’s arrival, he is not yet ready to play a full 90 minutes.

Therefore, with no Ekitike to call upon off the bench should Isak start at Selhurst Park, there is one somewhat forgotten youth star at Anfield who will undoubtedly relish the opportunity to impress.

Jayden Danns can replace Hugo Ekitike at Selhurst Park

Jayden Danns made his first senior appearance this season when he replaced fellow academy graduate Rio Ngumoha for the final 15 minutes against Southampton.

The 19-year-old opened his account for Liverpool against the Saints in 2024 when scoring a brace to secure a 3-0 win in the FA Cup.

He broke through the ranks during Jurgen Klopp’s final season at Anfield in the 2023/24 season – Danns made waves at the AXA Training Centre, scoring 17 goals in 20 outings and was, of course, a feature of the youth-heavy side that claimed the Carabao Cup against Chelsea.

Gary Lineker dubbed Danns “brilliant” after his performances during his breakout year, and now he faces a pivotal season to reintegrate himself into the first team squad.

While Isak has impressed the coaching staff since arriving at Anfield, despite having no pre-season at Newcastle, the £125 million man is nowhere near ready to complete a full 90 minutes for the Reds.

Slot admitted Isak would play around 60 to 70 minutes should he start at Selhurst Park, leaving Danns with plenty of time to make an impact if he is called upon off the bench.

Indeed, the scintillating form of Federico Chiesa does mean Danns is not guaranteed to make his first league outing on Saturday, but Palace boast a tall and powerful side, and in comparison, Danns is a better fit than Chiesa to combat this and should be granted the chance to impress Slot.

Jayden Danns needs to take every opportunity

The Scouser was handed a fantastic opportunity to impress when he was sent on loan to Sunderland, but he failed to make a single appearance at the Stadium of Light as he missed the entirety of the second half of the campaign through injury.

He will turn 20 this season, and while he is still well into the early years of his career, Danns is reaching the point where he must prove he has what it takes to play in the Premier League.

Liverpool spent a combined £204m to bring Isak and Ekitike to Anfield this summer, meaning the pair are well ahead of Danns in the pecking order.

Once Isak is fully match fit, opportunities will be scarce for Danns, the upcoming clash in South London could be one of, if not the only, chances the forward will be given to make an impact; he simply has to impress.