Hugo Ekitike breaks silence on Liverpool injury in message ahead of Chelsea clash

Hugo Ekitike appears to have dodged a fitness scare following Liverpool's 1-0 Champions League loss to Galatasaray. The 23-year-old hobbled off late in the match at RAMS Park as Arne Slot's men desperately searched for an equaliser.

Ekitike hit the deck after stretching for an errant ball from Dominik Szoboszlai, staying down as play continued around him. His substitution came moments after the Dutch boss threw caution to the wind by introducing Alexander Isak and Mohamed Salah in a desperate attempt to spark their misfiring frontline.

Despite flashes of brilliance, particularly from the Egyptian down the right flank, the Reds couldn't salvage a draw.

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Liverpool now face the final leg of a punishing trio of away fixtures when they travel to Stamford Bridge to take on Chelsea on Saturday.

The reigning Premier League champions will be crossing their fingers that Ekitike has escaped serious damage, with the France international having made an impressive start following his summer switch from Eintracht Frankfurt.

The Athletic moved to ease fears on social media, suggesting the striker was struggling with cramp rather than anything more serious.

Liverpool head into their clash with Enzo Maresca's Blues nursing wounds from their setback in Turkey - a rare blip during Slot's reign after enduring consecutive losses.

Alisson Becker is set to miss the upcoming match after being forced off the pitch late in the game, while there are concerns over Ekitike's fitness, with Liverpool potentially losing their top goalscorer for Saturday's big match.

Slot said (via the Liverpool Echo): "He felt something when he had to reach for the ball. I think we all know which one it was when we were trying to force something.

"I think at that moment in time, on the other side there was someone on the floor as well, so the referee blew his whistle and I wasn't even thinking we had an injury, but Hugo felt something.

"After the game, that's always the difficult thing with these moments when players feel like it is not too bad, but when you just walk around it is something different than when you make a sprint or have to shoot on target.

"He said he couldn't continue so we had to take him off. Let's see how he is for the weekend."

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