Ekitike injury stops Liverpool’s push against PSG in Anfield setback
ekitike was forced off with an injury in the first half of Liverpool’s Champions League quarterfinal against Paris Saint-Germain on Tuesday at Anfield. The France striker slipped in the 27th minute and appeared to hurt his right ankle before medical staff determined he could not continue. He was taken off on a stretcher and replaced by Mohamed Salah.
Early blow for Liverpool
The setback came in a high-stakes second-leg match in Liverpool, England, with Liverpool needing a strong response after trailing 2-0 from the first leg. The loss of ekitike removed one of Liverpool’s main attacking threats at a moment when the team needed as much firepower as possible.
ekitike had been one of Liverpool’s top players this season and has scored 19 goals for club and country. The injury is a concern not only for Liverpool’s immediate European hopes, but also for France with the World Cup approaching later this year.
What happened in the first half
ekitike was not involved in a challenge when he went down. Dominik Szoboszlai had played a pass toward him, and as the striker moved to meet the ball, his leg appeared to give way. Play continued briefly before it became clear he was in significant discomfort.
The medical response was immediate, and the stretcher came onto the field before ekitike was taken off. PSG defender Nuno Mendes also left the match shortly before halftime with an unspecified issue, though he was able to walk off unaided.
Reaction on the sideline
Former Newcastle striker Alan Shearer, speaking on Amazon Prime’s coverage, said ekitike “looks in pain” and added that “it doesn’t look good at all” if the issue involves the ankle or Achilles. His comments matched the mood around Anfield as Liverpool waited for an update on the extent of the injury.
Liverpool manager Arne Slot now faces a difficult wait over the fitness of ekitike for the closing games of the season. With Alexander Isak only recently back from a long-term injury, the substitution also forced a change in Liverpool’s plans for the rest of the match.
What happens next
At this stage, no official diagnosis has been given in the context available, and the seriousness of the injury remains unclear. What is clear is that ekitike’s departure changed the shape of the night for Liverpool, in a game already carrying major consequences for their season.
The next updates on ekitike will be closely watched by Liverpool, France, and everyone tracking the Champions League tie, with the question now whether the injury is a short-term setback or something more significant for ekitike.
