Hugo Ekitike out of World Cup

France manager Didier Deschamps confirmed the severity of the injury, describing Ekitike's disappointment as 'immense' as he misses the chance to represent his country on the global stage.

The 23-year-old had been in impressive form, leading Liverpool's scoring charts this season with 17 goals.

His absence is a major blow to both his club's domestic campaign and France's World Cup ambitions.

Liverpool will now have to rely on Alexander Isak and other attacking options as they navigate the remainder of the season without their star forward.