On Wednesday morning, Liverpool's worst fears were confirmed. A day after being dumped out of the Champions League by PSG, they received the body blow that Hugo Ekitike could miss at least nine months through injury.
During their 2-0 defeat at Anfield on Tuesday night, the French forward went down under no pressure from anyone. There was no contact. Immediately, it looked bad.
Hugo-Ekitike-Liverpool-PSG
The Liverpool medical team raced onto the field, and the big-money summer arrival was stretchered off the pitch.
The initial diagnosis is that he has ruptured his Achilles. It's one of the worst injuries a footballer can get. For context, PSG defender Presnel Kimpembe missed over 400 days of football when he suffered the same injury.
What Ekitike's injury means for Liverpool
When it rains, it pours as far as Arne Slot is concerned. While he may have won the Premier League title last season, this term has been nothing short of a disaster for the Dutchman. Still, it could be worse. Just look at Spurs.
Ekitike injury vs PSG
The Reds are not in a relegation battle but they have dealt with adversity right throughout the campaign. Their summer arrivals have not cut the mustard and there is no better evidence of that than Alexander Isak.
It was typical that just as their record signing made his return from a lengthy injury on Tuesday night, Ekitike suffered a gutting blow of his own. The good news, at least, is that the Swede will be able to replace him. So we hope anyway.
Isak's first season at Anfield has not been plain sailing and his woes were typified against PSG on Tuesday night. Slot took him off after 45 minutes - a move that was always planned - but he left the field having amassed just five touches. He completed two passes and had a single shot.
Regardless of his fitness, for a £125m signing you would expect more.
Isak-Liverpool-PSG
So, what's the solution now? Isak will certainly hope to play a part but the Reds hierarchy could dip their toes into the transfer market in the summer to solve that blow.
How Liverpool could replace Hugo Ekitike
Liverpool spent a bucketload on improving their forward line last summer but it has not exactly gone according to plan. Isak has just three goals to his name, Florian Wirtz has six and Ekitike was, at least, their top scorer with 17.
szoboslzai-ekitike-salah
However, that's precisely why the Frenchman's injury is such an enormous blow to Slot's hopes of securing Champions League football.
In a bid to replace him, more money could be spent with the likes of Michael Olise and Yan Diomande touted as options to bolster the forward line. However, they would be seen as more of a replacement for Mohamed Salah.
Well, according to Ben Jacobs in his GIVEMESPORT newsletter on Tuesday evening, Liverpool have been looking at Aston Villa's Morgan Rogers.
Aston Villa star Morgan Rogers
The Merseysiders and Chelsea are said to have explored a move last summer with a ballpark valuation of £80m in mind. A year on, both sides are still at the table for Rogers.
Jacobs reports that Liverpool's 'priority' is to add a player of the England international's quality and calibre. The Reds don't want to sign an out-and-out number 9 to replace Ekitike but are prioritising what are described as 'versatile attackers who may be capable of playing in more than one position.' Rogers certainly ticks that box.
Rogers vs Wirtz in 2025/26: League stats only
Stat (per 90 mins)
Goals
Shots
Shot accuracy
Conversion rate
Assists
Chances created
Take-ons completed
Fouls won
Duels won
While the injured France star has spent most of this season as a central striker, it was on the flanks where Liverpool viewed his future. That was how they planned to get him in the same side as Isak.
As a consequence, signing someone like Rogers makes a lot of sense. Like Ekitike, he can play off the flanks, predominantly on the left-hand side, while he's incredibly dangerous when he operates in a central position behind the striker.
This season, the 23-year-old has played 15 times on the left, scoring four goals and supplying a further four assists. In total this term he has ten goals and eight assists in all competitions.
During what was a breakout 2024/25 season, where he won the PFA Young Player of the Year award, the Villa superstar was electric. On his way to netting 14 goals and assisting 16, 17 of his involvements came from the wide areas, indicating that he could well be something of a dream replacement at Liverpool for their injury-stricken attacker.
PFA Player of the Year 2025 winners - Rogers & Salah (timeless)
Possessing pace, creativity, ingenuity and the ability to create something out of nothing, there are very few players better than Rogers in English football right now.
That said, with competition from Chelsea, Manchester United and Arsenal, this will not be a straightforward chase whatsoever.
Alexis Mac Allister for Liverpool Related
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Liverpool's senior stars have flattered to deceive throughout the season, and this one more than most.