Arne Slot described Hugo Ekitike’s harm as “actually dangerous” after the France worldwide was stretchered off throughout Liverpool’s Champions League defeat to Paris Saint-Germain.
On the night time Alexander Isak made a shock begin following a prolonged lay-off, Ekitike was damage with what gave the impression to be a critical decrease leg harm simply earlier than the half-hour mark at Anfield.
The ahead dropped to the turf with no one close to him and clutched his proper ankle space, showing in seen ache earlier than receiving therapy surrounded by his team-mates.
He then left the sphere on a stretcher, to get replaced by Mohamed Salah, with Slot suggesting the harm was “not good” amid fears he had suffered an Achilles harm.
Chatting with Amazon Prime, Slot mentioned: “He isn’t good. We might all see that it did not look good. He went residence within the second half so I have not seen him but.
“Dropping a recreation is difficult however once more dropping a participant is one thing we have had many occasions this season. It is very laborious for him right now of the season.”
This does not look good. The child is distraught.
Tim Sherwood on Soccer Particular
In his post-match press convention, Slot added: “It appears actually dangerous however it’s troublesome for me to say how dangerous. Tomorrow we are going to examine this additional, how dangerous that is for him.
“Let’s have a look at however that it would not look good is evident.”
Ekitike has scored 19 targets for Liverpool and France this season and was prone to characteristic for his nation at this summer season’s World Cup if match.
Ibrahima Konate added: “I am very unhappy for him. I feel it’s dangerous.
“I do not know. I heard many issues, however I do not wish to speak about that as a result of with the World Cup, the entire issues coming this summer season, it’s extremely laborious for him at this second. I ship him my prayers and the whole lot.”
Slot boosted by Liverpool show
In the meantime, Slot took positives from Liverpool’s Champions League quarter-final exit.
The Reds got here into the second leg with a mountain to climb having been completely outclassed in final Wednesday’s first leg on the Parc des Princes, the place the holders’ dominance was not mirrored by the 2-0 scoreline.
PSG’s missed alternatives allowed Anfield to dream of a well-known comeback nevertheless it was to not be as key interventions and a controversially overturned penalty pissed off a vastly improved Liverpool.
Ousmane Dembele’s second-half brace ultimately sealed PSG’s 2-0 second-leg win and progress to the semi-finals with a 4-0 combination triumph, however Slot took hope from an evening that noticed Liverpool’s last path to silverware finish.
“We made numerous development in comparison with final week,” the Liverpool boss mentioned. “I’ve to offer numerous credit score to the gamers, how laborious they labored.
“I’ve to offer numerous credit score to our followers, how they helped us tonight to execute our gameplan. If now we have a excessive press, it is so useful if there are followers behind you, to maintain on pushing you.
“Sadly, it is one of many many examples of this season the place we weren’t in a position to rating from the numerous possibilities we had.
“Once more, we had been up to now underperforming when it comes to xG [expected goals] and that’s simply an ongoing factor with us all through the entire season.
“Add to that, because it appears to be a nasty harm [to Ekitike]. We do not know for certain but. Add to that one other intervention of the VAR, which went not in our favour and that is additionally not for the primary time this season.
“After all we’re very upset as a result of there have been elements within the second half the place you might simply really feel if we are able to rating now that is going to turn into a particular night time. However the future appears very vibrant for this crew, as a result of we have proven that we are able to compete with the champions of Europe in our stadium, to be the dominant crew.
“Not many groups might be dominant towards Paris Saint-Germain and generate so many possibilities as we did. However, yeah, possibilities is one factor, scoring is a second.”
Liverpool’s consideration turns from pushing for Champions League glory to making sure they qualify for subsequent season’s competitors as their Premier League marketing campaign resumes with Sunday’s derby at Everton, reside on Sky Sports activities.
Sunday nineteenth April 1:00pm
Kick off 2:00pm
‘Slot must qualify for CL to maintain his job’
Tim Sherwood on Sky Sports activities:
“Liverpool had been the higher crew tonight.
“I nonetheless assume it was a penalty [for Liverpool]. There was contact into the again of the leg. He’s entitled to go down with that contact.
“In the event that they play like that, they’ll 100 per cent qualify for the Champions League.
“This tie was misplaced within the first leg. Why did not they go over there and have a go?
“Arne Slot must qualify for the Champions League to maintain his job.
“However he must be inspired by that second-half efficiency.”
