Liverpool striker Hugo Ekitike stretchered off after injury against PSG
Liverpool striker Hugo Ekitike was carried from the pitch on a stretcher during Tuesday evening’s Champions League quarter-final loss to Paris Saint-Germain, with manager Arne Slot fearing the worst about what appears to be a serious Achilles problem, reports BritPanorama.
The 23-year-old France international collapsed approximately 30 minutes into the match at Anfield, clutching his right ankle after pushing off to chase a pass.
“It looks really bad but we don’t know how bad yet,” Slot told reporters afterwards. He indicated he would be “surprised” if Ekitike features again before the end of the campaign.
Slot revealed he had been unable to speak with Ekitike following the incident, as the forward had already departed the stadium by half-time. “In the second half he went home, so I haven’t seen him yet,” the manager explained.
The suspected injury compounds what has been a challenging season for Liverpool on the fitness front. Wataru Endo, Conor Bradley, and Giovanni Leoni are all currently sidelined with long-term issues. “Losing a player is something we have had many times this season, but it is especially hard for him because you never want to be injured, especially at this time of the season,” Slot added.
Ekitike’s teammate Ibrahima Konate voiced his distress at witnessing the incident, saying, “Ekitike, I am very sad for him. I hope he will come back. To be fair, I think it’s bad.” Konate also expressed concerns about Ekitike’s chances of participating in the upcoming World Cup, adding, “With the World Cup coming this summer, I think it is very hard for him in this moment. I send him my prayers.”
The defeat marked the end of Liverpool’s European campaign for the season, with PSG progressing to the semi-finals after a comprehensive 4-0 aggregate victory. Ousmane Dembele secured a 2-0 win for the reigning champions at Anfield.
Mohamed Salah came on to replace the stricken Ekitike but was unable to influence the proceedings significantly. Liverpool now sits fifth in the Premier League and will finish the season without silverware, putting additional pressure on manager Arne Slot.
As Liverpool grapples with injury woes and a lacklustre campaign, this incident serves as a stark reminder of the fragility of athletes’ careers, highlighting how easily ambition can be derailed by injury.
