(H1) Ekitike's injury cast a dark shadow over an already painful night at Anfield

(H2) Ekitike's injury cast a dark shadow over an already painful night at Anfield

(H3) Ekitike's injury cast a dark shadow over an already painful night at Anfield

(H4) Ekitike's injury cast a dark shadow over an already painful night at Anfield

Ekitike's injury cast a dark shadow over an already painful night at Anfield, where Liverpool were beaten 2-0 by the French champions. Ousmane Dembélé scored both goals to seal a 4-0 aggregate victory for PSG and send them into the semi-finals, leaving Liverpool out of Europe and facing more questions about a season that has steadily unraveled. 

The more immediate concern, however, is Ekitike. The former PSG forward went down clutching the lower part of his right leg and had to be stretchered off, with early fears centering on a possible Achilles injury. If those concerns are confirmed, it would not only rule him out for the rest of Liverpool's campaign but could also end his hopes of representing France at this summer's World Cup. 

Speaking after the match, Slot did little to hide his concern. 

"It looks really bad, but it's difficult for me to say exactly how bad it is," he said. "Tomorrow we will investigate further. We'll have to wait and see, but it doesn't look good." 

Those words will alarm Liverpool supporters, particularly given Ekitike's growing importance in the side. Since arriving at the club, the striker has become a major attacking presence and one of the few bright points in an otherwise inconsistent campaign. 

Slot had started him alongside Alexander Isak, who was making his first start since suffering a broken leg in December. The idea was to give Liverpool a more dangerous front line on a night when they needed to overturn a difficult situation in Europe, but the plan quickly lost its shape once Ekitike went down. 

The injury also feeds into a wider story around Liverpool's season. Problems with fitness and availability have repeatedly disrupted the team, and Slot acknowledged that losing another player at this stage only adds to the sense of frustration around the club. 

"Losing a player is something we have experienced many times this season, but it's especially hard for him because you never want to get injured, especially not at this point in the season," Slot said. 

For Liverpool, the latest setback comes in a season that has never truly settled. The club sits fifth in the Premier League and is now on course to finish without silverware. Their domestic form has been uneven, and the Champions League had offered one of the last remaining chances to rescue something from the campaign. 

Instead, the night ended with elimination and renewed concern over a key forward whose absence could be deeply felt in the closing weeks. Ekitike's movement, link-up play , and finishing have given Liverpool an extra edge at times this season, and any long spell on the sidelines would leave Slot with one fewer reliable option in attack. 

There was at least one piece of better news for the Liverpool manager. Isak's return to the starting lineup gave the team a boost, even if the wider outcome of the evening made that difficult to appreciate in the moment. 

"The good thing is that Alex is back," Slot added. 

Still, that small positive was overshadowed by the sight of Ekitike leaving the pitch in visible distress. Until scan results arrive, Liverpool can only wait, but the early signs were serious enough for Slot to speak in unusually bleak terms. 

For club and player alike, the hope now is simply that the worst fears are not confirmed.