Liverpool have been dealt a major injury blow after Hugo Ekitike was stretchered off in the first half of their Champions League clash with Paris Saint-Germain. The French forward, playing against his former club, slipped on the turf and fell to the floor, immediately calling for the physio.
PSG captain Marquinhos even requested that the medical staff rush onto the pitch and tried to help Ekitike, but the striker was unable to get back to his feet. A stretcher was quickly summoned and Ekitike made way for Mohamed Salah, who surprisingly started on the bench.
The injury has thrown a spanner in the works for Arne Slot, who started with both Ekitike and Isak, despite informing the media prior to kick-off that the latter could only play for 45 minutes.
Slot likely planned for the two strikers to combine for the first half, before introducing Salah and reverting to a more familiar 4-3-3 shape, having started with two up front and a midfield diamond.
But Ekitike’s injury scuppers such ideas, with no other recognised central striker on the pitch. Cody Gakpo and Federico Chiesa are other forward options, however.
PSG left-back Nuno Mendes was also forced off with an injury 10 minutes later and had to be replaced by Lucas Hernandez.
Liverpool needed at least two goals before kick-off and to lose their top goalscorer in Ekitike comes as a major blow, with Isak confirmed to only be able to play one half of football.
When asked about the decision to play both strikers together, Slot replied: “If you include [Florian] Wirtz to that, it is only 88 minutes they play together.
“The thinking is that, as we all know, we need to score goals, and there are goals in these players. They are two target men, two players we can play into.
“They can score goals, as I just said, and as you might not know, Alex will not be able to play much more than 45 minutes.
“If you have to bring him with the possibility of extra-time, then it makes sense for me to start.”
Isak broke his leg against Tottenham in December and returned to the squad for the first time last week.