Liverpool have announced that their forward Hugo Ekitike has suffered a severe Achilles injury that will rule him out for the remainder of the current campaign and also prevent him from taking part in the upcoming FIFA World Cup with France. The 23‑year‑old striker was forced to leave the pitch at halftime during Liverpool’s Champions League loss to Paris Saint‑Germain at Anfield on Tuesday.
A slip on the playing surface caused a sudden jolt, and subsequent medical scans confirmed a complete rupture of the Achilles tendon. Initial assessments suggest that Ekitike could be sidelined for a minimum of six months. In the most pessimistic scenario, his recovery could extend to nine months, although a precise timetable will only be established after further examinations and specialist input.
Liverpool issued a statement on Thursday confirming the situation: "Ekitake will therefore be sidelined for the remaining weeks of the club season and unable to participate at this summer's World Cup with France." France manager Didier Deschamps expressed his disappointment, noting that Ekitike is among a handful of young talents who have broken into the senior squad in recent months. "He integrated perfectly with the group, both on the pitch and off it. This injury is a huge blow for him, of course, but also for the France team. His disappointment is immense.
Hugo will regain his top form, I'm convinced of it," Deschamps said, adding that the entire coaching staff stands behind the player and wishes him a swift recovery. The timing of the injury is particularly unfortunate for Liverpool. It came just after the return of fellow striker Alexander Isak, who had been out for several months following a serious leg injury. Isak made his first start since fracturing his ankle in December, only to see Ekitike go down shortly thereafter.
Ekitike arrived at Liverpool from Eintracht Frankfurt in the summer for a reported £79 million and has already contributed 19 goals across all competitions for both club and country this season. His loss deprives the Reds of a key attacking option as they battle for a top‑four finish that would secure a place in next season’s Champions League. Liverpool currently sit fifth in the Premier League, three points behind fourth‑placed Aston Villa and four points ahead of Chelsea.
Sky Sports analyst Peter Smith highlighted the growing list of injuries that have plagued Liverpool this term. "Another injury for Liverpool compounds a common and unfortunate theme for their season," he observed. Smith noted that Isak, who was expected to form a prolific partnership with the summer signings Florian Wirtz and Hugo Ekitike, has also struggled with fitness, having missed a significant period after a broken leg.
The club’s original plan was to field a £320 million attacking line‑up featuring Isak, Wirtz and Ekitike, but the reality has been far from that vision. Manager Arne Slot commented on the limited opportunities he has had to combine his three marquee signings: "For 88 minutes [before Tuesday] we have played with Florian, 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 added that losing a player to injury is a recurring challenge: "Losing a game is hard but again losing a player is something we've had many times this season." The injury crisis extends beyond the forward line. First‑choice goalkeeper Alisson has missed several matches due to hamstring problems, while defender Conor Bradley required knee surgery. Centre‑back Giovanni Leoni suffered an ACL tear, further stretching the defensive options, and full‑backs Jeremie Frimpong, Wataru Endo and Joe Gomez have all endured lengthy absences.
Despite these setbacks, Slot previously claimed that the squad’s fitness was at its best heading into the PSG clash. The subsequent injury to Ekitike underscores how Liverpool’s season has been repeatedly disrupted by player unavailability, forcing the manager to constantly adapt his tactics and line‑ups. Looking ahead, Liverpool have a series of crucial fixtures that will determine whether they can climb into the Champions League places.
Their upcoming schedule includes: - April 19: Away at Everton (kick‑off 2 pm, live on Sky Sports) - April 25: Home to Crystal Palace (kick‑off 3 pm) - May 3: Away at Manchester United (kick‑off 3.30 pm, live on Sky Sports) - May 9: Home to Chelsea (kick‑off 12.30 pm) - May 17: Away at Aston Villa (kick‑off time to be confirmed) - May 24: Home to Brentford (kick‑off 4 pm) Each of these matches presents an opportunity for the remaining squad members to step up and secure the points needed for a top‑four finish. The loss of Ekitike will likely force Liverpool to rely more heavily on Isak, Wirtz, and other attacking options such as Darwin Núñez or Luis Diaz, while also demanding greater defensive solidity to compensate for the injuries that have thinned the back line. In summary, Hugo Ekitike’s Achilles rupture is a significant blow to both Liverpool’s title aspirations and France’s World Cup plans.
The club now faces a challenging period of rehabilitation for the striker and a demanding run of games that will test the depth and resilience of the squad. Fans will be hoping for a speedy recovery for Ekitike and for the team to rally around the adversity to finish the season strongly.