Hugo Ekitike is now concerned about his World Cup prospects after being taken off on a stretcher during Liverpool’s Champions League quarter-final defeat to Paris Saint-Germain.
Ekitike collapsed off the ball, clutching his ankle due to a suspected Achilles injury and was clearly in distress.
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Medical staff from Liverpool quickly indicated that he could not continue, requiring a stretcher to assist his exit from the field.
The French forward was substituted for Mohamed Salah, who, despite being benched to start the game, couldn’t turn the tide as Liverpool succumbed to a 2-0 defeat on the night and a 4-0 loss on aggregate.
Hugo Ekitike went down off the ball and was stretchered off (AP)
The injury poses a serious concern for Ekitike’s World Cup participation, as the 23-year-old is scheduled to play for France this summer.
“Hugo’s situation looks quite severe, but it’s hard to assess the extent right now,” Arne Slot commented post-match. “It doesn’t seem promising, that’s for sure. I hadn’t seen him during halftime, and by the end of the game, he was already home. I haven’t had a chance to talk to him yet.”
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This sentiment was shared by his teammate Ibrahima Konate, who expressed his concern for the forward.
“I suspect this could be serious,” Konate stated in an interview with Prime Video. “I don’t know much, but with the World Cup approaching, it’s a very tough situation for him, and he has my prayers.”
Ekitike, who previously played for PSG for two years, aimed to prove himself to Luis Enrique, who excluded him from his Champions League squad for the 2023/24 season.
Ekitike started alongside Alexander Isak against the Champions League champions; it was Isak’s first start in four months after recovering from ankle surgery, but his own night ended early after just 30 minutes, leaving Liverpool concerned for yet another striker’s prolonged absence.
Ekitike was stretchered off and could now be at risk of missing the World Cup (AFP via Getty Images)
PSG also faced an injury setback in the first half, with left-back Nuno Mendes limping off shortly after Ekitike’s substitution for Lucas Hernandez.
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After the break, Enrique was forced to make another change when star winger Desire Doue, who had scored in the first leg, collided with the advertising boards while being challenged by Dominik Szoboszlai.
Although the 20-year-old attempted to continue after treatment, he struggled to move freely and had to leave the pitch for Bradley Barcola. Szoboszlai, who seemed to have inadvertently pushed Doue before the incident, apologized as he exited the field.