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Liverpool forward Hugo Ekitike has taken an “important step” in his recovery after successfully undergoing surgery on a ruptured Achilles tendon, head coach Arne Slot has confirmed.
The French striker sustained the serious injury during Liverpool’s Champions League quarter-final second-leg defeat to Paris Saint-Germain at Anfield earlier this month. The setback has ruled Ekitike out for the remainder of the 2025–26 season and will also see him miss France’s World Cup campaign this summer.
Providing an update on Friday, Slot stressed both the significance of the operation and the uncertainty surrounding the player’s recovery timeline.
“The surgery went well. That’s the first important step that he had to make,” Slot said. “But in such a long rehab process there are so many crucial steps before you can actually say how many months it will take. It’s going to take a long time.”
Slot acknowledged the challenges posed by the nature of Ekitike’s injury, particularly given the player’s explosive style of play, but remained cautiously optimistic.
“He’s a very explosive player, so usually that’s not helpful with this injury. But maybe he is the exception, we don’t know yet. The most important thing is that the surgery went well and he can now focus on his recovery.”
The Liverpool boss added that long-term injuries can often lead to players returning stronger, pointing to young defender Giovanni Leoni, who is currently recovering from an anterior cruciate ligament injury, as an example of resilience within the squad.
Ekitike’s absence compounds a growing list of injury concerns for Liverpool as they approach the final stretch of the season.
Goalkeeper Alisson Becker is nearing a return after missing six matches and could be available for the clash with Crystal Palace, while midfielder Wataru Endo has resumed light training but is not expected back in the immediate weeks ahead.
However, there are longer-term concerns elsewhere. Conor Bradley has been ruled out for the season following knee surgery, and Leoni is not expected to feature again this campaign. Giorgi Mamardashvili will also be sidelined for several weeks due to a wound sustained in a recent match.
Meanwhile, Stefan Bajcetic continues to struggle with recurring setbacks in his recovery, having yet to feature this season, and youngster Jayden Danns is gradually working his way back to fitness with the club’s U21 side.
Despite the mounting injury list, Slot confirmed there are currently no suspensions affecting the squad.
Liverpool will hope for timely returns from key players as they aim to navigate a challenging run-in, though Ekitike’s long-term absence represents a significant blow to their attacking options.
Featured Image Credit: Unsplash / Alexander David, Pexels / Patrick
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