Liverpool fans not happy after hearing why Hugo Ekitike was taken off vs Brighton

Liverpool fans have been left less than happy after manager Arne Slot revealed why Hugo Ekitike was substituted during the opening minutes of their 2-1 defeat at Brighton and Hove Albion.

The Reds once again failed to back up a promising display in Europe by suffering defeat at the Amex Stadium in Saturday's lunchtime kick-off.

Danny Welbeck opened the scoring for the hosts on 14 minutes, before a defensive error allowed Milos Kerkez to level on 30 minutes.

Welbeck scored his second goal of the afternoon 11 minutes into the second half, with Liverpool unable to find an equaliser in the time that remained.

Slot was forced into an early change to Liverpool's tactical shape inside eight minutes when striker Ekitike had to be replaced due to injury.

The change, which saw Curtis Jones brought on, effectively left Cody Gakpo as the Reds' only recognised forward, while Jones ended the game at right-back.

Slot was asked about that decision, and the severity of Ekitike's injury, during his post-match media conference - and Liverpool fans aren't liking his answer.

"Hugo could play tomorrow if he had to," Slot stated (via Daily Mail). "It was a dead leg.

"It was a collision that led to him going off - it was not helpful."

While, clearly, the injury would have been determined as serious enough for Ekitike to leave the field - and the Frenchman appeared to be in significant pain as he was helped up by team-mate Dominik Szoboszlai and Brighton's James Milner - fans were not totally happy with Slot's comments.

Ekitike appeared to be in significant pain as he walked off the pitch (Image: Getty)

"Reacting to the Dutchman's update, one fan asked: "If he could play tomorrow, why didn't he just get on with it?"

Another agreed: "Tomorrow? We just played."

A third wrote: "Ekitike going off for a dead leg is bonkers."

While another fan took aim at Slot: "Another masterclass in man management."

And a fifth said: "Way to throw Hugo under the bus."