Liverpool's Champions League Hopes Suffer Major Setback with Ekitike Injury
Liverpool's ambitions of mounting a dramatic Champions League comeback against Paris Saint-Germain were dealt a severe blow on Tuesday evening when striker Hugo Ekitike was stretchered off the pitch after just thirty minutes of play. The French forward went down off the ball, clutching his ankle in visible agony, with initial fears pointing towards a serious Achilles injury.
Early Exit for Returning Striker Duo
Ekitike had been handed a starting role alongside Alexander Isak, marking the Swede's first appearance in four months following his own recovery from ankle surgery. This pairing, however, was abruptly cut short as medical staff swiftly signalled to the bench that Ekitike could not continue, necessitating a stretcher for his removal from the Anfield turf.
The injury represents a cruel twist for Ekitike, who spent two seasons at PSG and was undoubtedly keen to prove a point to manager Luis Enrique. Enrique had notably omitted the striker from his Champions League squad during the 2023/24 campaign.
Salah Introduced Amid Growing Anfield Anxiety
Mohamed Salah was immediately introduced to replace Ekitike on the right flank. This substitution carries added significance, as it could potentially mark Salah's fourth-to-last ever appearance at Anfield should Liverpool fail to overturn their 2-0 aggregate deficit and exit the competition.
The atmosphere at Anfield, already tense given the magnitude of the quarter-final second leg against the reigning Champions League holders, turned to concern as the extent of Ekitike's injury became apparent. Club doctors are now assessing the damage, with Liverpool fearing a lengthy period on the sidelines for their striker.
This early setback compounds the difficulty of Liverpool's task, requiring at least two goals against a formidable PSG side to progress, all while managing a suddenly depleted attacking line. The loss of Ekitike's presence and potential point-proving motivation against his former club adds a layer of misfortune to an already challenging European night for Jurgen Klopp's side.
