LIVERPOOL, April 17 -- Liverpool manager Arne Slot believes Hugo Ekitike can come back even stronger from a ruptured Achilles tendon that has ended the French striker's season, and his dreams of playing in the World Cup.

Ekitike suffered the injury against his former club Paris Saint-Germain on Tuesday as Liverpool bowed out of the Champions League.

The 23-year-old had scored 17 goals in his debut season in England after a £69 million (RM369 million) move from Eintracht Frankfurt and was almost certain to make Didier Deschamps's France squad for the World Cup.

"Devastating for him," said Slot on Friday with Ekitike expected to be out for at least nine months.

"Missing out on so many special moments, but he's not the first and wil...