Sports
Spoelstra: No need to penalize Ball any further
ESPN News
Sports
Injured Liverpool star unlikely to return before 2027
TL;DR
Liverpool striker Hugo Ekitike is unlikely to return to play before 2027 due to a serious injury sustained during the Champions League elimination. His injury raises concerns about his future with the team.
Injured Liverpool star unlikely to return before 2027
Liverpool striker and former Arsenal target Hugo Ekitike suffered a serious injury as his team were eliminated from the Champions League on Tuesday.
Photo by Carl Recine/Getty Images
Liverpool played the second leg of their Champions League quarter-final tie against Paris Saint-Germain on Tuesday, as the only English club other than Arsenal still remaining in the competition.
But Arne Slot’s hope of a comeback from Liverpool’s 2-0 first-leg defeat were dealt a serious blow as Hugo Ekitike was forced off around the half-hour mark.
L’Equipe (via GFFN) have since reported that Liverpool’s worst fears about the injury have been confirmed, with Ekitike rupturing his right Achilles tendon. The problem will require surgery, and Liverpool went on to lose the match 2-0, for a 4-0 aggregate defeat.
Photo by Michael Steele/Getty Images
Ekitike’s injury is expected to rule him out for nine months in the best-case scenario, and even then he’d need time to get back to full match fitness.
That means he’ll miss the remainder of this season, the summer World Cup, and the first half of the 2026/27 campaign with Liverpool. A nine-month absence would mean a return in January 2027 at the earliest.
Liverpool have at least welcomed Alexander Isak back from his own three-and-a-half-month injury recently, but they’ll likely rely on Cody Gakpo playing some minutes up front in the coming weeks as Isak works on his match sharpness.
Photo by Alex Pantling/Getty Images
Before signing Viktor Gyokeres last summer, Arsenal were linked with moves for both Isak and Ekitike by various media outlets. Liverpool ended up signing the two players, but injuries have significantly limited the impact the centre-forwards have had.
Neither Arsenal nor title-rivals Manchester City will play Liverpool again this season, with Tuesday’s exit from the Champions League putting an end to those chances.
But given the length of Ekitike’s lay-off, it’s likely he’ll miss at least one game against Mikel Arteta’s side in 2026/27.
Q&A
What injury did Hugo Ekitike sustain during the Champions League?
Hugo Ekitike suffered a serious injury that has led to concerns about his return to play.
When is Hugo Ekitike expected to return to Liverpool?
Hugo Ekitike is unlikely to return before 2027 due to the severity of his injury.
How does Hugo Ekitike's injury impact Liverpool's season?
Ekitike's injury could significantly affect Liverpool's attacking options and overall performance in the season.
