he 22-year-old was stretchered off during the quarter-final second leg defeat to Paris Saint-Germain, going down off the ball midway through the first half and clutching his ankle in visible pain.
Liverpool went on to lose 2-0 on the night and 4-0 on aggregate, but the result was overshadowed by concern over Ekitike’s condition after he was unable to continue.
“Hugo looks really bad but it is difficult to say how bad,” Slot said. “Let’s see. It doesn’t look good, that is clear.”
The Liverpool boss also revealed he had not yet been able to assess the situation fully in the immediate aftermath of the match.
“I didn’t see him at half-time and after the game he was already home. I have not spoken to him yet.”
Ekitike has enjoyed a strong debut season at Anfield following his move from Eintracht Frankfurt last summer, scoring 17 goals in 45 appearances across all competitions.
Any extended absence would represent a significant setback for both club and country, particularly with the 2026 FIFA World Cup on the horizon.
His France national team team-mate Ibrahima Konaté admitted the situation is a tough one to process, especially given the timing in the season.
“I think it is bad,” Konaté said. “I don’t know, I have heard many things, I have no word to talk about that because with the World Cup coming it is very, very hard for him and I send him my prayers.”
With Liverpool awaiting further medical assessment, the early signs point to a potentially serious injury that could have major implications for Ekitike’s summer ambitions.