Midfielder could miss pre-season with new injury blow

It’s not been a good week on the injury front for Liverpool and Arne Slot.

The biggest blow came on Tuesday with the devastating news that £69m signing Hugo Ekitike had ruptured his achilles. The French forward may now be out of action for up to a year.

That injury of course throws Arne Slot’s plans into disarray.

Liverpool will be relieved to get this season finished - and Slot as well as sporting director Richard Hughes will be back at the drawing board for a successful 2026/27 campaign.

But Ekitike is not the only player set to be impacted by injury.

Luca Stephenson suffers an injury

Luca Stephenson - currently on loan at Dundee United - is not expected to play again this season owing to injury.

The 22-year-old - now into his second season on loan at Tannadice - has once again been one of the best players for the Scottish top-flight side. But he - along with fellow loanee Amar Fatah - is set for an extended spell on the sidelines.

That’s according to The Courier - which claims that Stephenson’s pre-season plans could be wrecked by his latest injury blow.

“The prognosis is not a positive one, with two of United’s most important players set to be absent for a run-in that includes a derby against Dundee and a showdown with Aberdeen,” the report reads.

“Indeed, their respective recoveries are likely to extend well into the close-season.”

Stephenson hoping for pre-season chance

Stephenson would have been hoping to come back to base at the end of his loan spell and make a big impact in pre-season. Last year he took advantage of the opportunity afforded to him by Arne Slot in joining the pre-season tour of Asia.

The former Sunderland trainee even ended up inking a new contract before embarking on a second loan spell north of the border.

Back in January it was speculated that Stephenson could be recalled from his loan in order to help out at right-back and in midfield - two problem positions.

He stayed put however and his season has ended once again prematurely due to injury - just like it did last season. It leaves his future at Anfield in doubt - with Richard Hughes yet to make up his mind on Stephenson’s fate.

Dundee United would love to have him back for a third loan - but the likelihood is that Liverpool sell if he is unable to force his way into the first-team squad.

“Liverpool youngster Stephenson has been one of United most impressive loan captures of recent times and will depart with eight goals and seven assists from 67 outings, and a young player of the year award from last term,” the report reads.

“Like Fatah, the versatile 22-year-old will remain firmly on the Terrors radar if an opportunity to bring him north for a third time rears its head.”

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