Hugo Ekitike forced to leave Anfield with injury as 'prayers' sent to striken star

Ibrahima Konate has sent Hugo Ekitike his "prayers" after the Liverpool striker suffered a worrying injury against PSG, and head coach Arne Slot admitted it "didn't look good"

Hugo Ekitike was stretchered off with a worrying injury as Liverpool exited the Champions League(Image: FRANCK FIFE / AFP via Getty Images)

Liverpool head coach Arne Slot provided an update on striker Hugo Ekitike, and Ibrahima Konate sent him his prayers after he was stretchered off with an ankle injury during Tuesday's 2-0 defeat to Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League.

A spirited Liverpool failed to find the breakthrough against PSG, and Ousmane Dembele scored two late goals at Anfield to silence the home crowd. PSG won the two-legged tie 4-0 on aggregate, as Liverpool's run in the Champions League came to an end.

Alexander Isak returned to the starting lineup but lasted only 45 minutes, and Ekitike was withdrawn in the first half. Ekitike slipped in the 27th minute and began clutching his Achilles, and Slot provided an update after the game as Liverpool's in-form striker left the field on a stretcher.

"Not too good. I think we could all see that it didn't look well and didn't look good," Slot said to Amazon. When asked if it could be an Achilles issue, he added, "Let's wait and see what it will be. But we could all see it didn't look good. In the second half, he went home, so I haven't seen him yet.

"Losing a game is already very hard, especially in the way we lost it, but then again, as it seems to be, losing a player is something we've had so many times this season, but it's especially very hard for him, because you never wanna be injured, especially at this moment in the season."

Ibrahima Konate also reacted to Ekitike's injury said of Isak: "I think it is bad. 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."

Konate and Ekitike are both expected to be in the French roster for the FIFA World Cup(Image: Getty Images)

Ekitike appeared to have injured his right ankle after slipping in the 27th minute, but he was also seen clutching his Achilles and stayed down. After receiving medical treatment on the field, he was then stretchered off at Anfield.

The French striker was replaced by Mohamed Salah, who started on the bench but made his final Champions League appearance for Liverpool. Several PSG players went over to Ekitike as he remained on the field, with members of the roster international teammates with the Liverpool forward.

Former Liverpool striker Daniel Sturridge was "devastated" as he reacted to the scenes on Amazon's broadcast. "I am honestly so devastated for him," Sturridge said.

Ekitike was in severe discomfort after suffering his injury(Image: Photo by Michael Steele/Getty Images)

"I can't imagine what his emotions are like right now, but it looks to be a bad one. Praying for him, of course. Moments like this are moments, as football players, you never wanna feel. I feel so sorry for him right now, it's a big shame."

It was a huge blow for Liverpool on a night where goals were needed to overturn a 2-0 deficit, but it was also significant for Ekitike, personally. The 2026 FIFA World Cup is just months away, and Ekitike has become a regular for the France national team.

He scored in a 2-1 win over Brazil last month and has starred during a disappointing season for Liverpool, scoring 16 goals across all competitions. Liverpool is now out of every cup competition, and has six Premier League games remaining.

Liverpool is sitting fifth in the Premier League standings with a four-point advantage over Chelsea in sixth. The top five qualify for the Champions League next season, but Liverpool may have to navigate the final games without Ekitike and a partially fit Isak.