Arne Slot breaks his silence on Hugo Ekitike’s season-ending injury, confirming the striker will miss the 2026 World Cup, as Liverpool prepares for the first Merseyside Derby at the Hill Dickinson Stadium.
In an ideal reality, the under-fire Dutchman would be calling upon the clinical services of his Frenchman to lead the line at the Hill Dickinson Stadium against Everton.
Unfortunately, football can be a cruel game, and after Ekitike rolled onto the ground in significant pain after falling over mid-way through the first half against Paris Saint-Germain, the harrowing look of concern etched across the faces of everyone on the pitch, including PSG players, served as an immediate, chilling signal that Ekitike had sustained a significant injury.
Indeed, it has since been revealed that the former PSG marksman has ruptured his Achilles tendon, with the rest of this 2025/26 season now in tatters for both club and country, as he has been ruled out of the upcoming World Cup for Didier Deschamps’ Les Bleus.
Back in September, Ekitike actually scored against the Toffees, as Slot side picked up a 2-1 victory in the Merseyside Derby at Anfield.
Off the back of scoring Liverpool’s decisive second of the day, ex-Reds defender Stephen Warnock praised the striker as a “danger” when through on goal.
Unfortunately, he won’t be operating in a similarly dangerous way for Slot‘s men on Sunday afternoon. Previewing the tense showdown with the media on Friday morning, Slot led with a message of support for the sidelined Frenchman, acknowledging the ‘devastating’ timing of the injury
Slot’s press conference comments ahead of Everton
Slot has backed his star marksman to come back even stronger, despite suffering from such a disappointing setback.
He said, when speaking ahead of the game at the Hill Dickinson Stadium: “He hasn’t been operated on yet. Devastating for him coming to a new club having so much impact straight away.
“Playing against your former club in CL quarter-final with so much to come for him in the summer. First thoughts are with him being out for such a long time, missing out on so many special moments.
“Not the first and not the last player who experienced something like this at the start of their career, and so many examples of players coming back even stronger.
“100% he will be one of those who say maybe this injury makes me even stronger and more ready to play at an even higher level.”
Away from commenting on Ekitike’s dreadful situation, the under-pressure head coach was also keen to make everyone aware that his team is focused on the task at hand in overcoming Liverpool’s arch nemesis.
In Slot’s eyes, a ‘mini-league’ is now beginning to form, as his side chases a spot among the top five in the ever-changing Premier League table, with a win at the Toffees.
Premier League Top 5 Standings:
| Position | Club | Wins | Draws | Losses | Points |
| 1. | Arsenal | 21 | 7 | 4 | 70 |
| 2. | Manchester City | 19 | 7 | 5 | 64 |
| 3. | Manchester United | 15 | 10 | 7 | 55 |
| 4. | Aston Villa | 16 | 7 | 9 | 55 |
| 5. | Liverpool | 15 | 7 | 10 | 52 |
He further said: “It feels a bit like a mini-league. Every team is focused on team around them. Our focus now is not on Arsenal but on the teams around us.
Our main focus is on the first game at hand and that’s Everton.”
Slot also offered up another negative injury update, by stating that Joe Gomez will not be fit in any capacity for the Merseyside Derby.
The long-standing Reds servant would be introduced into the second leg against PSG at the half-time mark, but the experienced defender only lasted 22 minutes of action before he was hauled off.
He will now be completely absent, as Liverpool makes the short trip over enemy lines.
Slot’s preparations for this tasty encounter will have already been troubled by Ekitike’s ill-fated injury, and he will now have to make do without Gomez.
The Dutchman will have to rely on the likes of Alexander Isak to finally come good, instead, as the local bragging rights hopefully remain with his inconsistent Reds outfit.
