Liverpool manager Arne Slot has expressed concern over Hugo Ekitike's injury, describing it as 'really bad' after the French forward was stretchered off during the team's Champions League defeat to Paris Saint-Germain. Ekitike was forced off with what appeared to be a serious lower leg injury, sparking fears of an Achilles problem. The injury occurred just before the half-hour mark, with Ekitike clutching his right ankle area in visible pain before receiving treatment from the medical staff. He was eventually replaced by Mohamed Salah.
Speaking after the match, Slot admitted that the injury 'didn't look good' and revealed that Ekitike had gone home at half-time. The Liverpool boss added that the full extent of the injury would be assessed further the following day. Ekitike's injury is a significant blow to Liverpool, who are already facing an uphill battle to qualify for next season's Champions League. The French forward has scored 19 goals for Liverpool and France this season and was likely to feature for his country at the World Cup this summer.
Ibrahima Konate expressed his sadness over Ekitike's injury, saying 'I think it is bad' and sent his prayers to his teammate. Despite the setback, Slot took positives from Liverpool's performance, praising the team's progression compared to their previous match.
The Reds came into the second leg with a mountain to climb but put in a vastly improved display, only to be denied by key interventions and a controversially overturned penalty. Ousmane Dembele's second-half brace sealed PSG's 2-0 win and progress to the semi-finals with a 4-0 aggregate triumph.
Slot acknowledged that Liverpool's inability to score from their many chances was a recurring issue throughout the season. The team's attention now turns to ensuring they qualify for next season's Champions League, starting with Sunday's derby against Everton.