Liverpool’s Hugo Ekitike stretchered off against PSG in huge blow to World Cup hopes | OneFootball

Hugo Ekitike will fear for his World Cup after being stretchered off during Liverpool’s Champions League quarter-final defeat to Paris Saint-Germain.

Ekitike went down off the ball holding his ankle after suffering a suspected Achilles injury and appeared in some agony.

Liverpool doctors were quick to signal to the bench that the Frenchman wouldn’t be able to continue and that he would require a stretcher to be taken off.

The Frenchman was replaced by Mohamed Salah on the right flank, who missed out on the starting XI but failed to make an impact off the bench as Liverpool lost 2-0 on the night and 4-0 on aggregate.

The injury could have devastating implications for Ekitike that go beyond Liverpool, with the 23-year-old due to feature for France at this summer’s World Cup.

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Hugo Ekitike went down off the ball and was stretchered off (AP)

"I think it is bad,” said club and international team-mate Ibrahima Konate after the match, speaking to Prime Video.

“I don't know, I have heard many things, I have no word to talk about that because with the World Cup coming it is very, very hard for him and I send him my prayers."

Ekitike spent two years at PSG and had a point to prove to Luis Enrique, who left the striker out of his Champions League squad in 2023/24.

Ekitike started alongside Alexander Isak against the Champions League holders, the first start the Swede had made for four months after recovering ankle surgery, but his evening was curtailed after just 30 minutes with Liverpool now fearing their other striker is set for an extended period on the sidelines.

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Ekitike was stretchered off and could now be at risk of missing the World Cup (AFP via Getty Images)

PSG were also dealt a first-half injury blow, with left-back Nuno Mendes limping off eight minutes after Ekitike’s replacement in place of Lucas Hernandez.

Enrique was then forced into another sub after the break after star winger Desire Doue, who scored in the first leg, collided with the advertising board under the challenge of Dominik Szoboszlai.

The 20-year-old briefly tried to continue after receiving treatment but was not moving freely and hobbled off for Bradley Barcola. Szoboszlai, who appeared to push Doue in the back before he went down, apologised as he left the field.