Hugo Ekitike was injured in Liverpool’s defeat to PSG on Tuesday night time.
Hugo Ekitike was stretchered off throughout Liverpool’s defeat to PSG (Picture: Getty)
Liverpool striker Hugo Ekitike shall be sidelined for round 9 months after selecting up a severe damage in Tuesday’s defeat to PSG. The ahead went down below no problem within the first half and in agony as he rolled round on the turf. He was stretchered off after being handled by Liverpool docs and left Anfield instantly.
Talking afterwards, Arne Slot admitted that he was anxious in regards to the severity of Ekitike’s damage. Now, it has been revealed that he shall be out for the remainder of the season and probably till the beginning of 2027. He has ruptured his proper Achilles tendon and shall be unable to return for round 9 months, in response to L’Equipe.
It is a crushing blow for Ekitike, who will miss the World Cup and a big chunk of the 2026/27 marketing campaign. It means Liverpool homeowners FSG will seemingly be compelled to take emergency motion by recruiting one other striker in the summertime switch window.
Slot made it clear that the Frenchman was in a nasty state together with his post-match feedback, saying: “We might all see that he did not look properly and did not look proper. We will all see it did not look good. Within the second half he went dwelling and I did not see him.
“Once more because it appears, shedding a participant is one thing we have had rather a lot this season. It is very arduous for him since you by no means need to be injured presently of the season.”
Ekitike’s damage got here on the identical night time Alexander Isak was handed his first begin since breaking his leg in December. He solely managed 5 touches within the opening 45 minutes and was changed on the break.
Slot defined that this was a pre-planned change, saying: “I mentioned earlier than the sport that should you go to further time and he performs the second half and performs 45 minutes, there are solely two minutes in between earlier than further time comes up for half an hour.
Ekitike shall be out for round 9 months with a ruptured Achilles tendon (Picture: Getty)
“I do not assume that was lifelike. To play him for 45 minutes and see at halftime how he feels so as to add 5 to 10 minutes to that, that was a chance at present.
“However as a result of we already needed to make the primary substitution within the first half, I did not need to make the second substitution 5 minutes after half-time. That is why I took him off at half-time.
“He was twice near a purpose and that is why you play a striker of his degree. There was one header from a set-piece and one nice run in behind [Willian] Pacho the place he was actually near scoring which was ultimately offside.
“It is good to have him again. He was prepared and if I assumed he wasn’t prepared then I would not have performed him.
“Should you examine us at present to final week, I feel it is truthful to say he was fully able to play in any other case you may’t play a primary half as we did, though the second half was even higher.”
Isak might want to shoulder Liverpool’s attacking burden for the remainder of the season, on condition that Ekitike shall be sidelined for the foreseeable future.
Get Liverpool FC information, fixtures, outcomes and switch gossip plus chosen affords and competitions Subscribe Invalid e-mail
We use your sign-up to supply content material in methods you’ve got consented to and to enhance our understanding of you. This will likely embody adverts from us and third events based mostly on our understanding. You’ll be able to unsubscribe at any time. Learn our Privateness Coverage
He’ll nearly actually begin on this weekend’s Merseyside derby, though Cody Gakpo can even deputise as a striker if wanted.
EXPRESS SPORT ON FB! Get all the most effective sports activities information and rather more on our Fb web page.
Leave a Reply