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EPL Carl Recine/Getty Images Arne Slot says Liverpool top scorer Hugo Ekitike is a major doubt for Thursday’s Premier League clash with Arsenal. The French striker missed Sunday’s 2-2 draw at Fulham due to a minor hamstring problem and faces a race against time to be fit for the trip to the Emirates. “He has not trained with us until now and let’s see if he can today, ” Slot said. Advertisement “I said when we played Fulham that he is not going to be out for long but because games come so fast he is in between maybe training with the team or it would take him one or two days extra. ” Slot refused to be drawn on whether Liverpool would rival Manchester City in trying to sign defender Marc Guehi from Crystal Palace during the January window. Guehi was on the brink of joining the champions last summer before Palace pulled the plug at the 11th hour. The Dutchman insists he’s focused on getting more out of the talent already at his disposal. “I am really happy with the squad we have. All the decisions made last summer and the summer before are completely aligned with me, Richard (Hughes, sporting director), and the ownership, ” he added. “This season has shown how talented this group is and if everyone is available how good a team we can be. ”There is nothing positive from players being injured but maybe if I can think about the narrative that we have spent so much money and every time I say, ‘no, we replaced and spent a little bit more than came in’, no-one wanted to hear it. “But maybe now for the first time people do see we replaced and with very good players. The last game and the games before I could impact the game from the bench because Jeremie Frimpong came in and gave an assist and the players that are starting are incredible football players. “This club is in a very good place if everyone is available. We are getting stronger and stronger – for the short-term future but definitely also for the mid to long-term future. “ Slot pointed to the return to fitness of Joe Gomez as helping to ease concerns over a lack of depth at centre back, having depended so much on Virgil van Dijk and Ibrahima Konate in recent months. He said: ”Joe is back so that is already a big help. No manager would tell you they are completely happy to have only two centre-backs available. Advertisement “But you have to look at the bigger picture, we have signed an unbelievable player in Giovanni Leoni, who will be back next season. “This is the way this club works. It is not that there is no limitation to us spending. We have to do smart things and this club has always tried to do smart things to keep up with the teams we want to compete with. There’s no difference now. “ Liverpool head for the Emirates unbeaten in nine games in all competitions but find themselves 14 points behind Mikel Arteta’s side. Performances have been unconvincing but Slot says context is required to accusations that in making them harder to beat the football has become dull and boring. “I find it really hard to hear but it’s not that I would completely disagree, ” he said. “I would use different words and I would take certain things into account. I want to win as many trophies as I can but I think I am also known for the fact that my teams always try to play attacking football and I can only say they’re trying to do so. “But having a lot of ball possession doesn’t mean you play attacking football. We are struggling to create a lot of chances. But we are not the only team that struggles to create a lot of chances. I don’t think the number we create is that different to some other teams that are doing really well. “We have to find answers to that and we haven’t found enough yet but we are working on that every single day. We still have a lot to play for in the Premier League, and we’re still in the FA Cup and the Champions League. ” James Pearce joins the Athletic after 14 years working for the Liverpool Echo. The dad-of-two has spent the past decade covering the fortunes of Liverpool FC across the globe to give fans the inside track on the Reds from the dressing room to the boardroom. Follow James on Twitter @James Pearce LFC