Hugo Ekitike Injury: Progress, Potential Return Date for Liverpool Star
A miserable Champions League night for Liverpool took another downward turn when Hugo Ekitiké collapsed to the turf late in the first half of the 2–0 defeat to Paris Saint-Germain.
The summer signing was in visible distress as he left the pitch on a stretcher and immediate fears of a serious problem were exacerbated by Arne Slot's postgame comments.
"Hugo looks really bad but it is difficult to say how bad," Slot confessed.
"Let's see. It doesn't look good, that is clear."
Center back Ibrahima Konaté was similarly downbeat, adding: "I think it is bad. I don't know, I have heard many things, I have no word to talk about that because with the World Cup coming it is very, very hard for him and I send him my prayers."
Here's everything you need to know about Ekitiké's injury.
What Injury Does Ekitiké Have?
No formal diagnosis has been revealed just yet, but fans were left incredibly worried by the sight of a devastated Ekitiké needing a stretcher to leave the field.
Ekitiké was grabbing his ankle as he sat on the ground, indicating a potential Achilles injury. Problems in that area can range in severity, with the dreaded ACL injury among the worst possible outcomes for the Frenchman.
Scans have been ordered for Wednesday, after which Ekitiké's injury is expected to be clarified.
When Will Ekitiké Return From Injury?
Again, a timeline can only be established once the full extent of Ekitiké's injury is determined.
If Ekitiké has suffered an ACL injury, the usual recovery timeline sits at around nine months and it would take a superhuman effort for him to be back on the pitch before the end of 2026.
Anything less severe would open the door to an earlier comeback, but even if Ekitiké avoids the worst, the timing of his injury could hardly be worse in terms of the games he could miss.
What Matches Could Ekitiké Miss Through Injury?
With just six games and as many weeks left of the season, Ekitiké's 2025–26 campaign is almost certainly over.
There will be a nervous wait to determine Ekitiké's availability for this summer's World Cup, which gets underway in just under eight weeks. Didier Deschamps will not want to take the 23-year-old to North America if he is not 100% healthy, particularly given the vast number of options available to the France boss.
An absence of 12 weeks would 100% end Ekitiké's hopes of playing at his first World Cup, while 16 weeks would impact the start of next season with Liverpool on Aug. 22.
Of course, with an ACL injury, the attention would be turned to 2027.
Liverpool's Remaining Premier League Fixtures
| Opponent | Date |
|---|---|
| Everton (A) | April 19 |
| Crystal Palace (H) | April 25 |
| Man Utd (A) | May 3 |
| Chelsea (H) | May 9 |
| Aston Villa (A) | May 17 |
| Brentford (H) | May 24 |
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This story was originally published April 15, 2026 at 5:25 AM.