Image Credits: Imago Images
On a night when Liverpool’s Champions League hopes were extinguished by PSG, the bigger story may prove to be the sight of Ekitike leaving Anfield on a stretcher, visibly in tears and clutching his lower right leg.
The French forward crumpled to the turf off the ball around the half-hour mark as he chased a pass in behind, immediately signalling for help as players from both sides called on the medical staff.
It was particularly alarming as Ekitike went down off the ball and was not challenged by anyone in any way. After several minutes of treatment, he was taken off to a subdued applause from Anfield and replaced by Mohamed Salah, with Arne Slot admitting post‑match that “it looks really bad” and that initial assessments were “not good at all.”
But now L’Equipe are reporting devasting news.
They report that Ekitike has suffered a rupture of the right Achilles tendon – an issue that typically requires surgery followed by a lengthy rehabilitation period of around nine months if it’s a full rupture.
It means the 23‑year‑old’s season is effectively over and, beyond Liverpool, the injury is also a major blow to France, with his hopes of featuring at the upcoming World Cup almost certainly ended before they had a chance to truly begin.
Slot said of the injury on Tuesday night:
“Let’s wait and see what it will be. But we could all see it didn’t look good. In the second half he went home so I haven’t seen him yet. Losing a game is already very hard, especially in the way we lost it, but again – as it seems to be – losing a player is something we’ve had so many times this season.”
“It’s especially very hard for him because you never want to be injured, especially not at this moment of time in the season.”
Konate also added after the Champions League exit: “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.”
