Arne Slot on 'devastating' Hugo Ekitike injury as Liverpool comeback prediction made

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Liverpool head coach Arne Slot has revealed that Hugo Ekitike is yet to have an operation on the Achilles tendon injury he suffered during Tuesday's Champions League defeat to Paris Saint-Germain.

Ekitike, 23, left the pitch on a stretcher and in tears after just 31 minutes of the quarter-final second leg at Anfield. After attempting to sprint, the France international went down off the ball and was in serious pain. He received immediate medical attention before being taken off the pitch and straight down the tunnel.

Slot cut a concerned figure post-match and Liverpool have since confirmed on that Ekitike has torn his Achilles and is set for a long spell on the sidelines . There are fears that, as well as missing the rest of the current season and this summer's World Cup, that Ekitike might not return until at least 2027.

Addressing Ekitike's injury for the first time since it was revealed he will be out for several months, Slot said in his pre-Everton press conference: "He hasn't been operated on yet.

"Devastating for him coming to a new club having so much impact straight away. Playing against your former club in a Champions League quarter-final with so much to come for him in the summer.

"First thoughts are with him being out for such along time, missing out on some many special moments. Not the first and not the last player to experience something like this at start of career and so many examples of players coming back even stronger, and 100 per cent he will be one of those.

"Maybe this injury makes me even more stronger and more ready to play at even higher level."

Shortly after Liverpool confirmed the extent of Ekitike's injury, he took to social media to send a message.

In a post, Ekitike said: "It's hard, maybe even unfair… but I'm grateful this is happening to me here, among you. I'm not alone. Your strength and your love will be my driving force. See you again soon, Anfield [love heart emoji]."

Liverpool's statement and Ekitike's message came less than 24 hours since France manager Didier Deschamps ruled the forward out of this summer's World Cup in North America.

"Unfortunately, the severity of [Ekitike's] injury will prevent him from finishing the season with Liverpool and taking part in the World Cup," Deschamps said in a statement from FFF on Wednesday.

"This injury is a huge blow for him, of course, but also for the French national team. I wanted to express my full support for him, as well as that of the entire coaching staff."