Image Credits: Imago Images
Liverpool have suffered a major injury concern during their Champions League clash with Paris Saint-Germain on Tuesday night. Hugo Ekitike was stretchered off in the first half at Anfield.
The 23-year-old France international went down unchallenged just before the half-hour mark with what appeared to be a serious injury.
Any significant setback would be a major blow for both Liverpool and Ekitike, who is expected to be in contention for a World Cup place with his country.
Alexander Isak, Liverpool’s other high-profile striker signing, has been sidelined since December after fracturing his leg, only returning in the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final against PSG last week.
Hugo Ekitike was replaced by Mohamed Salah, who could be making his final European appearance for Liverpool as he prepares to leave the club this summer.
Liverpool continue to deal with a number of injury setbacks at a crucial stage of the season. Giorgi Mamardashvili has been required to step in over recent weeks with Alisson Becker sidelined through injury, while Arne Slot may still be managing Alexander Isak carefully as he returns to full fitness.
Elsewhere, Wataru Endo and Conor Bradley are expected to miss the remainder of the 2025/26 campaign due to ankle and knee injuries respectively, while Giovanni Leoni has not featured since his debut in September after suffering an ACL injury.
On his decision to start both Ekitike and Isak, Slot told Amazon Prime Video: “Yeah and if you would include Florian Wirtz in that, it’s only been 88 minutes that they played together.
“The thinking is that, as we all know, we need to score goals – that’s one thing and there are goals in these players. They are two target men, two players where we can play into, can score goals as I just said.
“And as you might maybe not know but I do know, Alex will not be able to play much more than 45 minutes, so if you have to bring him in with the possibility of extra-time, then it makes sense to me to start him.”
Liverpool suffered a 2-0 defeat to Paris Saint-Germain in the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final at the Parc des Princes last week.
Goals from Désiré Doué and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia gave the Ligue 1 side a strong advantage heading into the return leg at Anfield.