Skip to content

Hugo Ekitike injury: Liverpool striker suffers suspected Achilles injury with fears he could miss at least six months

Hugo Ekitike has suffered a suspected Achilles injury and there are growing fears he could miss at least six months; Ekitike suffered the injury in the 2-0 loss to Paris Saint-Germain on Wednesday; the striker is set for scans to determine the full extent of the setback

Hugo Ekitike suffered a suspected Achilles injury against PSG
Image: Hugo Ekitike suffered a suspected Achilles injury against PSG

Liverpool striker Hugo Ekitike has suffered a suspected Achilles injury and there are fears he could be out for at least six months.

Sky Sports News understands the player is set for scans to determine the full extent of the injury, which is not yet known.

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.

Ekitike came off with a serious leg problem after 31 minutes of the 2-0 loss to Paris Saint-Germain at Anfield - which confirmed a 4-0 aggregate quarter-final defeat to the reigning European champions.

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.

Liverpool did not comment when contacted by Sky Sports News.

Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player

Liverpool boss Arne Slot provide an update on Hugo Ekitike's injury after he was stretchered off during their Champions League match against PSG.

Speaking after the defeat to PSG, Slot gave an initial assessment of Ekitike's injury. "Hugo looks really bad but it's difficult for me to say how bad," he said.

Also See:

"Tomorrow we will investigate this further, (see) how bad this is for him. Let's see. But it doesn't look good. I didn't see him at half-time and after the game he had already gone home so I haven't spoken to him yet."

Ekitike's teammate, Ibrahima Konate, echoed those fears, as he added: "I'm very sad for him. I think it is bad. I don't know. I send him my prayers and everything."

Ekitike has scored 19 goals for Liverpool and France this season after signing from Eintracht Frankfurt for £79m last summer.

Hugo Ekitike reacts after Liverpool fall 2-0 down to PSG in the Champions League quarter-final first leg
Image: Hugo Ekitike is out for the season with an Achilles injury

'Terrible blow for Ekitike and Liverpool'

Sky Sports' Vinny O'Connor: "It looked to be a serious one. He tried to get back to his feet and couldn't. Ekitike is undergoing scans to determine the full extent of the problem.

"Arne Slot confirmed that he felt it was a serious one. If it is a rupture, then that is a recovery time of six to nine months. That rules him out of the rest of the season, the World Cup and the start of the next season.

"A terrible blow for him and a terrible blow for Liverpool."

Arne Slot says his side have belief they can overturn a 2-0 deficit against Paris Saint-Germain
Image: Arne Slot during the Champions League defeat to PSG

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 worrying 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 Alexis Mac Allister reacts after PSG's Ousmane Dembele scored his side's opening goal
Image: Liverpool's Alexis Mac Allister reacts after PSG's Ousmane Dembele scored his side's opening goal

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

Play Super 6!
Play Super 6!

Play Super 6 for a chance to win £250k! Enter for free.