Soccer-France and Liverpool forward Ekitike suffers blow to World Cup hopes

Soccer Football - UEFA Champions League - Quarter Final - Second Leg - Liverpool v Paris St Germain - Anfield, Liverpool, Britain - April 14, 2026 Liverpool's Hugo Ekitike is stretchered off after sustaining an injury as Mohamed Salah comes on as a substitute to replace him REUTERS/Phil Noble

LIVERPOOL, England, April 14 (Reuters) - ⁠Liverpool forward Hugo Ekitike was ‌carried off the pitch in tears during the first half of their ​Champions League quarter-final ⁠second-leg clash with ⁠Paris St Germain on Tuesday after ⁠sustaining ‌what appeared to be a serious ⁠injury.

The forward pointed to his Achilles ​tendon ‌as medical staff attended to ⁠him ​before he was carried off on a stretcher at Anfield.

The ⁠injury could have major ​implications beyond Liverpool's season, with Ekitike due to feature for ⁠France at the World Cup in June-July.

Ekitike has 17 goals in all competitions this ​season since Liverpool ⁠signed him from Eintracht Frankfurt ​for 69 million ‌pounds ($93.58 million) in July.

($1 = ​0.7374 pounds)

(Reporting by Lori EwingEditing by Christian Radnedge)