The official Liverpool club website reported that French forward Hugo Ekitike left the team's match against Eindhoven in the UEFA Champions League on Wednesday evening due to a back issue.

Coach Arne Slot confirmed that Ekkelenkamp was substituted in the 61st minute of the match after feeling back pain since the beginning of the first half, which affected his movements and performance in the second half. Slot said in statements to the club's official website: "Especially at the start of the second half, I felt that Hugo couldn't move as he did in the first half, and this affected our pressure on the opponent. He told me that during the first five to ten minutes of the match, he felt back pain, which is why he had to come off."

These developments come at a time when Liverpool is striving to keep its key players fit for crucial matches in the Premier League and the Champions League, as the absence of Ekotecki represents a blow to the team's attacking line.

The attacker’s health condition remains under observation, with expectations of a comprehensive evaluation in the coming days to determine the extent of the injury’s impact on his participation in upcoming matches.