Liverpool's disappointing 2-1 defeat to PSV at Anfield was compounded by a potentially serious injury to their record summer signing Hugo Ekitike.
Costly Setback for Reds
With Liverpool trailing 2-1 during Wednesday night's encounter, their £79 million summer acquisition from Eintracht Frankfurt slumped to the turf in clear distress. The French striker dramatically slapped the Anfield pitch in frustration after realising his evening was prematurely over.
Ekitike's injury occurred during a Liverpool counter-attack where he became involved in a minor tussle for possession. Despite minimal visible contact from PSV defenders, the forward immediately signalled to the substitutes' bench that he couldn't continue, requiring no assessment from medical staff before his withdrawal.
Match Turns Against Liverpool
The injury blow came with Liverpool already chasing the game against their Dutch opponents. PSV had established a 2-1 lead despite Liverpool dominating large portions of the match, continuing a worrying pattern of defensive lapses costing the Reds valuable results.
Virgil van Dijk's extraordinary early handball conceded a penalty that put PSV ahead, though Dominic Szoboszlai soon equalised by tapping in after Cody Gakpo's shot was parried into his path.
Despite controlling the remainder of the first half, Liverpool fell behind again in the second period when Mauro Junior's defence-splitting pass found Guus Til, who finished with impressive composure.
Anxious Wait for Slot
Alexander Isak replaced the injured Ekitike, but the Frenchman had been one of Liverpool's brighter performers during another puzzling team display. Manager Arne Slot now faces an anxious wait to determine the severity of what appears to be a muscle injury.
Initial concerns suggest Ekitike could be sidelined for a considerable period, representing a significant blow to Liverpool's attacking options. The timing couldn't be worse for Slot, who already has much to ponder following another result that failed to reflect his team's periods of dominance.
Regardless of the eventual diagnosis, Liverpool must quickly address their defensive vulnerabilities while hoping their expensive summer investment isn't facing a lengthy absence from Premier League action.
