Liverpool striker Hugo Ekitike is suspected of suffering an Achilles tendon injury and it is feared he could be out for at least six months.
Sky Sports News understands that the player will undergo scans to determine the full extent of the injury, but the full extent of the injury is not yet clear.
The worst-case scenario is a nine-month absence, but further analysis will be needed to determine a recovery timeline.
Ekitike was substituted with a serious foot problem 31 minutes into the 2-0 defeat to Paris Saint-Germain at Anfield, which sealed a 4-0 aggregate defeat against the reigning European champions in the quarter-finals.
Ekitike’s injury coincided with Alexander Isak’s return from a serious foot injury, with the British Record transfer making his first start since breaking his ankle in December.
Liverpool did not comment when contacted by Sky Sports News.
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Liverpool manager Arne Slott has provided an update on the injury sustained by Hugo Ekitike, who was carried off on a stretcher during the Champions League game against PSG.
After the loss to PSG, Slott gave his first assessment of Ekitike’s injury. “Hugo seems really bad, but it’s hard to say how bad,” he said.
“Tomorrow we will investigate this further. Let’s see how bad this is for him. But things don’t look good. I didn’t see him at half-time and he had already gone home after the game, so I haven’t spoken to him yet.”
Ekitike’s teammate Ibrahima Konate echoed those concerns, adding: “I’m very sad for him. I think it’s bad, but I don’t know. I’m sending him prayers and everything.”
Ekitike joined from Eintracht Frankfurt for £79m last summer and has scored 19 goals for Liverpool and France this season.
Hugo Ekitike out for season with Achilles tendon injury
“Terrible blow for Ekitike and Liverpool”
Sky Sports’ Vinny O’Connor: “It appears to be a serious condition. He tried to stand up but was unable to do so. Ekitike is undergoing tests to determine the full extent of the problem.”
“Arne Slott has admitted that he feels the injury is serious. If it is a rupture, recovery will take six to nine months. This means he will miss the rest of the season, the World Cup and the opening match of next season.”
“It’s a terrible blow for him and a terrible blow for Liverpool.”
Arne Slott during the Champions League loss to PSG
Another injury for Liverpool…
Peter Smith of Sky Sports:
Another injury for Liverpool exacerbates an unfortunate theme that has been common to their season.
Of course, Alexander Isak arrived from Newcastle for £125m and was set to score big goals for Liverpool this season. However, the Swede has been plagued by injuries, including being sidelined with a broken foot in December, and Tuesday was his first start since his return.
The plan at the start of the season was for Isak, along with fellow summer signings Florian Wirtz and Hugo Ekitike, to form a new attacking line-up worth £320m. However, Ekitike’s worrying injury against PSG forced Liverpool into yet another frustrating night, with Slott pointing out how he did not have enough opportunities to use the three big names together.
“For 88 minutes (until Tuesday) we have played with Florian (Wurtz), Alex and Hugo. (Tuesday) we added about 27 minutes to this. I would be surprised if we add more minutes to this this season,” he said.
Regarding Ekitike’s injury, he added: “It’s tough to lose a game, but to lose a player again is something we’ve had many times this season.”
First-choice keeper Alisson also missed the game with a hamstring problem, Conor Bradley has undergone knee surgery and Giovanni Leoni’s anterior cruciate ligament injury has strained depth at centre-back, with Jeremy Frimpong, Wataru Endo and Joe Gomez also facing important absences.
He claimed the team’s fitness was the best it had been this season before facing PSG, but they suffered another setback. Liverpool have been regularly disrupted and thwarted.
Liverpool’s Alexis Mac Allister reacts after PSG’s Ousmane Dembele scores his team’s first goal
Liverpool remaining games
April 19: Everton (A), live on Sky Sports, kick-off 2pm
April 25: Crystal Palace (H), 3pm kick-off
3 May: Manchester United (A), live on Sky Sports, 3.30pm kick-off
May 9: Chelsea (H), 12:30pm kick-off
May 17: Aston Villa (A), kick-off to be determined
May 24: Brentford (H), 4pm kick-off
