On Wednesday morning, Liverpool’s worst fears were confirmed. A day after being knocked out of the Champions League by PSG, they received the news that Hugo Ekitike could miss at least nine months due to injury.
During their 2-0 defeat at Anfield on Tuesday night, the French striker went down under pressure from anyone. There was no contact. Soon, it looked bad.
Liverpool’s medical team rushed onto the pitch, and the summer’s big-money arrival was hauled off the pitch.
The initial diagnosis is that he ruptured his Achilles. It is one of the worst injuries a football player can suffer. In context, PSG defender Presnel Kimpembe missed more than 400 days of football when he suffered the same injury.
What Ekitike’s injury means for Liverpool
When it rains, it pours all the way to Arne Slot. Although he may have won the Premier League title last season, the title has not been a disaster for the Dutchman. However, it could be worse. Just look at the Spurs.
The Reds are not in a relegation battle but have struggled throughout the campaign. Their arrival in the summer did not cut the mustard and there is no better proof of that than Alexander Isak.
It was natural that just as their record signing was returning from a lengthy injury on Tuesday night, Ekitike struck out on his own. The good news, at least, is that the Swede will be able to replace him. So we hope so anyway.
Isak’s first season at Anfield did not go well and his woes were epitomized by PSG on Tuesday night. Slott took him off after 45 minutes – a move that was always planned – but he left the field having scored just five times. He completed two passes and shot one.
Regardless of his fitness, for a £125m signing you’d expect more.
So, what is the solution now? Isak will hope to be involved but the Reds management could dip their toes in the summer transfer market to sort that out.
How Liverpool can replace Hugo Ekitike
Liverpool spent a bucket load on developing their forward line last summer but it didn’t quite go according to plan. Isak has just three goals to his name, Florian Wirtz has six and Ekitike, at least, was the top scorer with 17.
However, this is precisely why the Frenchman’s injury is a major blow to Slot’s hopes of Champions League football.
In an attempt to replace him, more money could be spent with the likes of Michael Olise and Yan Diomande considered options to strengthen the forward line. However, they will be considered as Mohamed Salah’s replacement.
Yes, according to Ben Jacobs in his GIVEMESPORT column on Tuesday evening, Liverpool were eyeing Aston Villa’s Morgan Rogers.
The Merseysider and Chelsea are said to have explored a move last summer with a ballpark figure of £80m in mind. As the year goes on, both sides are still at Rogers’ table.
Jacobs reports that Liverpool’s ‘priority’ is to add a player of the quality and caliber of the England international. The Reds are not looking to sign an outgoing number 9 to replace Ekitike but are prioritizing what are described as ‘versatile attackers who can play in more than one position.’ Rogers certainly ticks that box.
|
Rogers vs Wirtz in 2025/26: League stats only |
||
|---|---|---|
|
Mathematics (in 90 minutes) |
Rogers |
Wirtz |
|
Goals |
0.3 |
0.2 |
|
Shots |
1.7 |
1.2 |
|
Gun accuracy |
56.6% |
59.26% |
|
Conversion rate |
10% |
9% |
|
It helps |
0.2 |
0.2 |
|
Opportunities are created |
1.4 |
2.3 |
|
The takeover is complete |
1.2 |
1.6 |
|
Fouls won |
1.4 |
0.8 |
|
Duels won |
4.3 |
3.9 |
While the injured France star has spent most of this season as a centre-forward, it has been in the flanks that Liverpool have looked to their future. That’s how they plan to put him on the same side as Isak.
As a result, signing someone like Rogers makes a lot of sense. Like Ekitike, he can play on the left side, while being incredibly dangerous when operating in a central position behind the striker.
This season, the 23-year-old has played 15 times on the left, scoring four goals and providing four more assists. In total this season he has ten goals and eight assists in all competitions.
During the 2024/25 season, in which he won the PFA Young Player of the Year award, the Villa superstar was electric. On his way to 14 goals and 16 assists, 17 of his involvements are in the wide area, showing he could be Liverpool’s dream replacement for their injured striker.
Possessing pace, intelligence, creativity and the ability to create something out of nothing, there are very few better players than Rogers in English football right now.
That said, with Chelsea, Manchester United and Arsenal competing, this won’t be a straight chase.
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