Hugo Ekitike’s World Cup dream is unsure after he was taken off on a stretcher throughout Liverpool’s Champions League defeat by Paris Saint-Germain.
The 23-year-old striker – signed for £69million from Frankfurt final summer time – suffered what gave the impression to be a nasty damage within the first half of the 2-0 defeat at Anfield that condemned Arne Slot’s aspect to a 4-0 mixture defeat.
And team-mate Ibrahima Konate mentioned after the sport: ‘I’m very unhappy for him, and I hope he’ll come again. I believe it is dangerous. I do not know. I heard many issues. With the World Cup, all of the issues coming this summer time, it’s totally arduous for him at this second – and I ship him my prayers.’
Ekitike will likely be despatched for additional scans within the subsequent 48 hours and Slot hinted that he might not play once more this season, saying: ‘Hugo, all of us noticed on the video and clips, that doesn’t look good. For 88 minutes till tonight we’ve got performed with Florian (Wirtz), Alex (Isak) and Hugo collectively.
‘We added about 27 to that tonight and I’d be stunned if we add extra minutes to that this season. The great factor is Alex is again.’
Ekitike received his first cap for France final September and was anticipated to be a part of the squad for this summer time’s World Cup within the US, Canada and Mexico. That now seems unsure.
Hugo Ekitike went down with what seems to be a critical damage in opposition to PSG
The English champions had probabilities and a penalty overturned at Anfield however the harm was executed within the first leg in Paris. Ousmane Dembele scored a brace in opposition to the run of play within the second half to place the tie past attain.
However Slot insists the long run seems to be brilliant for Liverpool regardless of crashing out.
Slot mentioned: ‘In fact we’re very disenchanted as a result of I believe there have been elements of the second half the place you might really feel, “If we might simply rating now, this might develop into a really particular evening”.
‘However the future seems to be very brilliant for this group, for this membership. We have now proven we will compete with the champions of Europe in our stadium. To be the dominant group, not many groups might be dominant in opposition to PSG and create as many probabilities as we did.’
Liverpool had a second-half spot-kick overturned by VAR at 0-0 when Alexis Mac Allister was felled within the penalty space, a lot to the dismay of Slot.
‘I believe in all probability final week we had an excessive amount of luck and we ran out of luck at this time,’ mentioned the boss, referring to Ibrahima Konate being fortunate to flee punishment for a push in Paris.
‘We have now conceded a number of penalties this season and I might title all of them for you, but when a pen is given, often VAR tells you I see contact then I ought to assist the on-field resolution. I wasn’t stunned that this went in opposition to us however that wasn’t the story of the sport.’
