Liverpool has confirmed that striker Hugo Ekitike will miss the remainder of the season and the World Cup with France after sustaining a severe Achilles injury. The 23-year-old forward was forced to leave the game during the first half of Tuesday's Champions League loss to Paris Saint-Germain at Anfield due to a slip on the turf.
Scans have revealed a rupture of the Achilles tendon, and there are concerns that Ekitike may be out for at least six months, with the worst-case scenario being an absence of up to nine months. Liverpool announced on Thursday that Ekitike will be sidelined for the rest of the club season and will not participate in the World Cup. France head coach Didier Deschamps expressed his support for Ekitike, stating that the player's disappointment is immense but that he will regain his top form.
Ekitike's injury comes at a critical time as Liverpool aims to secure a Champions League spot for next season. The team is currently fifth in the Premier League, three points behind fourth-placed Aston Villa and four points ahead of Chelsea. Ekitike has scored 19 goals for Liverpool and France this season after joining from Eintracht Frankfurt for £79m last summer.