Glen Johnson has claimed that Hugo Ekitike isn't starting under Arne Slot as a result of 'politics' at Liverpool. The Frenchman arrived at Anfield in a £79million move from Eintracht Frankfurt earlier this summer.

It didn't take the 23-year-old long to hit the ground running with the Reds either. Ekitike opened the scoring in Liverpool's Community Shield clash with Crystal Palace, before netting against Bournemouth in the Premier League just five days later.

He then put one past Newcastle United in Liverpool's next league fixture to make it three goals from three appearances with the club. However, when Alexander Isak arrived from the Magpies in a £125m move on deadline day, Ekitike's place in the team was called into question - given he had primarily been fielded as a centre-forward.

While the...