Liverpool have confirmed that striker Hugo Ekitike has sustained a “serious” Achilles injury and will miss the rest of the season and the World Cup with France.
The forward had to be substituted during the first half of Tuesday’s Champions League defeat to Paris Saint-Germain at Anfield after a slip on the turf and scans on the injury have confirmed a rupture of the Achilles tendon.
There are fears the 23-year-old could be out for at least six months and the worst-case scenario is an absence as long as nine months, but it will take more analysis to determine a timeline for his recovery.
Liverpool confirmed on Thursday: “Ekitike will therefore be sidelined for the remaining weeks of the club season and unable to participate at this summer’s World Cup with France.”
Didier Deschamps, the France head coach, said: “Hugo is one of the dozen young players who have made their debuts with the national team in recent months.
“He had perfectly integrated into the group, both on the pitch and off it. This injury is a huge blow for him, of course, but also for the France team.
“His disappointment is immense. Hugo will regain his top form, I’m convinced of it.
“But I wanted to express all my support to him, as well as that of the entire staff. We know he’ll be fully behind the France team and we’re all thinking of him very strongly.”
Hugo Ekitike is out for the season with an Achilles injury
Ekitike picked up the injury just as Alexander Isak returned from his serious leg injury, with the British record transfer making his first start since fracturing his ankle in December.
Ekitike has scored 19 goals for Liverpool and France this season after signing from Eintracht Frankfurt for £79m last summer.
His injury comes at a crucial time as Liverpool aim to secure a place in next season’s Champions League. They sit fifth in the Premier League, three points behind fourth-placed Aston Villa and four points ahead of Chelsea.
Another injury for Liverpool…
Sky Sports’ Peter Smith:
Another injury for Liverpool compounds a common and unfortunate theme for their season.
Of course, Alexander Isak was supposed to come in and post a big goals total for Liverpool this season after his £125m signing from Newcastle. But the Swede has struggled with injuries, including a broken leg which sidelined him in December and Tuesday was his first start back.
The plan at the start of the season was for Isak and fellow summer signings Florian Wirtz and Hugo Ekitike to combine in a new-look £320m attack. But Ekitike’s injury against PSG added to Liverpool’s frustrating night, and Slot pointed out how he hasn’t had a chance to use those three big names together often enough.
“For 88 minutes [before Tuesday] we have played with Florian [Wirtz], Alex and Hugo. We added about 27 to that [on Tuesday] and I would be surprised if we add more minutes to that this season,” he said.
On Ekitike’s injury, he added: “Losing a game is hard but again losing a player is something we’ve had many times this season.”
First-choice keeper Alisson has also missed game time with hamstring problems, Conor Bradley has had knee surgery, Giovanni Leoni’s ACL injury put a strain on centre-back depth, while Jeremie Frimpong, Wataru Endo and Joe Gomez have also been out for significant spells.
After claiming the fitness of his squad was at its best for the campaign before facing PSG, to yet another setback. Liverpool have been hampered and hindered regularly.
Liverpool’s remaining matches
April 19: Everton (A), live on Sky Sports, kick-off 2pm
April 25: Crystal Palace (H), kick-off 3pm
May 3: Manchester United (A), live on Sky Sports, kick-off 3.30pm
May 9: Chelsea (H), kick-off 12.30pm
May 17: Aston Villa (A), kick-off TBD
May 24: Brentford (H), kick-off 4pm
