Liverpool star suffers horrific injury, risking World Cup absence

Liverpool faced defeat against PSG in the Champions League quarter-finals, and also suffered a significant setback when Hugo Ekitike incurred a serious injury, confronting the risk of a lengthy layoff.

Early morning on April 15 (Vietnam time), during the quarter-final second leg UEFA Champions League, Liverpool not only lost to Paris Saint-Germain but also suffered a heavy personnel loss as new signing Hugo Ekitike sustained a severe injury.

The French striker, a €95 million signing from Eintracht Frankfurt, encountered trouble in the first half. In the 28th minute, following a pass from Dominik Szoboszlai, Ekitike accelerated to receive the ball but suddenly slipped and fell without any contact. He immediately clutched his heel and repeatedly shook his head in pain.

Medical staff quickly entered the field to provide care, while opposing players such as Achraf Hakimi and Willian Pacho also came to assist, demonstrating fair-play spirit. After several minutes of treatment, Ekitike had to leave the field on a stretcher. Initial assessments suggest he may have suffered an Achilles tendon rupture—a severe injury that could force the striker into a long-term absence.

Mohamed Salah was brought on as a substitute after about 30 minutes of play. However, the Egyptian star's presence could not help Liverpool reverse the situation. The Anfield home team continued to lose 0-2, thereby stopping with an aggregate score of 0-4. Both PSG goals were scored by Ousmane Dembélé in the 73rd and 90+1 minutes.

Notably, this was Salah's final match in Champions League for Liverpool, as he will leave the club at the end of the season due to not renewing his contract. The next destination for the 33-year-old forward is speculated to be in Saudi Arabia after the World Cup.

Although showing signs of decline compared to last season, Salah still endeavored to perform, creating 4 key passes and having one shot. In the 64th minute, the match became dramatic when Alexis Mac Allister earned a penalty, but after consulting VAR, the referee overturned the decision.

Regarding Ekitike, the striker born in 2002 is having a fairly impressive first season with 23 goals in 44 matches. However, this serious injury not only threatens the remainder of the season with Liverpool but could also impact his chance to participate in the World Cup with the French national team.