Liverpool have announced that striker Hugo Ekitike has suffered a “serious” Achilles injury and will miss the rest of the season and the World Cup with France.
The forward suffered a slip on the grass during the first half of Tuesday’s Champions League defeat to Paris Saint-Germain at Anfield and was substituted after tests revealed he had ruptured his Achilles tendon.
There are fears the 23-year-old will be out for at least six months, and in the worst case scenario, nine months, but further analysis will be needed to determine a recovery timetable.
“Ekitike will therefore be sidelined for the remaining weeks of the club season and will not be able to take part in this summer’s World Cup against France,” Liverpool said in a statement on Thursday.
France national team head coach Didier Deschamps said: “Hugo is one of more than a dozen young players who have made their national team debut in recent months.
“He integrated perfectly into the group both on and off the pitch. This injury is a big blow not only for him but also for the French team.”
“His disappointment is immeasurable. Hugo will definitely get back to his top form, I’m sure.”
“However, I wanted to express my full support to him and the entire staff. We know he will give his full support to the French team and we all feel very strongly about him.”
Hugo Ekitike out for season with Achilles tendon injury
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.
Ekitike joined from Eintracht Frankfurt for £79m last summer and has scored 19 goals for Liverpool and France this season.
His injury comes at a critical time as Liverpool aim to qualify for next season’s Champions League. They are fifth in the Premier League, three points behind fourth-placed Aston Villa and four points behind Chelsea.
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 injury against PSG made for an even more frustrating night for Liverpool, with Slott pointing out that he didn’t 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 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
