Image Credits: Imago Images
Hugo Ekitike has handed Liverpool a massive injury blow after he was taken off on a stretcher in the first half of Tuesday’s Champions League quarter-final decider against Paris Saint-Germain at Anfield.
The France striker went down unchallenged shortly before the half-hour mark and immediately clutched his lower right leg, raising concerns of a potential Achilles injury.
He was in visible discomfort and was carried off by medical staff. Mohamed Salah replaced him, having initially started on the bench.
Arne Slot’s side are chasing Champions League qualification via a top-five Premier League finish and were aiming to overturn a 2-0 first-leg deficit against PSG.
It is a concern for France, with the World Cup just 58 days away in the United States, Canada and Mexico. He has recently become an important part of Didier Deschamps’ squad.
Ekitike featured in both of France’s March international friendlies and scored in a 2-1 win over Brazil at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough on March 27.
He started on the left wing in a front line that included Kylian Mbappé, Michael Olise and Ousmane Dembélé. Two days later, he came off the bench for 27 minutes in a 3-1 victory over Colombia, where Désiré Doué scored twice.
Hugo Ekitike has now made eight appearances for France, six of them in World Cup qualifiers, registering two goals and two assists so far.
Liverpool’s elimination from the Champions League was confirmed after a 2-0 defeat to PSG at Anfield. The Reds exited the competition at the quarter-final stage after losing both legs of the tie.
Two second-half finishes from Ousmane Dembélé at Anfield extended the holders’ aggregate lead to 4-0. Providing an update on Hugo Ekitike’s injury, Slot told Amazon Prime: “He’s not good. We could all see that it didn’t look good. He went home in the second half so I haven’t seen him yet.
“Losing a game is hard but again losing a player is something we’ve had many times this season. It’s very hard for him at this time of the season.”
Defender Ibrahima Konate has sent his support to Ekitike following the striker’s injury. Konate added: “I’m very sad for him. To be fair I think it is bad. I don’t know. I send him my prayers and everything.”
