Liverpool’s faith in Hugo Ekitike is getting stronger by the game, and recent showings suggest they’re right to be optimistic. The French forward has made a seriously good impression at Anfield, and his two goals against Newcastle United the other day proved again why people inside the game reckon he’s got the makings of a world-class striker.
His brace sealed the deal in Liverpool’s 4-1 thrashing of Newcastle , helping him get into double figures in the Premier League this season. And with Alexander Isak out injured, the 23-year-old’s taken the opportunity to step up and show that he’s got what it takes to cut it with the big boys. He’s playing with a level of maturity and composure that you don’t normally associate with a player so young, and he’s shown a real striker’s instinct when it comes to getting himself into the right positions at the right times.
Former Liverpool striker Michael Owen has been vocal about how much he rates Ekitike, saying in effect that the Frenchman’s got all the skills necessary to be one of the best in the business. According to Owen, Ekitike’s got pace, power, technical ability, and brains – and there’s not a single area where you can say he’s got room for improvement.
What sets Ekitike apart is that it’s not just the way he scores goals that makes him stand out. It’s the way he contributes to the team’s attacking play in general. He’s more than happy to drop into deeper positions, hold up the ball under pressure, pick out a pass that puts a teammate in a great position, and make runs off the shoulder of the last defender – all the sort of things that get top-class strikers the recognition they deserve.
It’s fair to say that Ekitike’s got the sort of mentality that’s not always easy to find in a striker. He’s not the kind of player who loses his nerve when things don’t go his way, and you get the feeling that he’s got the self-assurance to succeed over a long period at the top level. He’s shown so far that he’s got the physical resilience to last the pace of a long season, and his injury record so far has been spotlessly clean. You can see why they think he’s the real deal.
Now, for Liverpool boss Arne Slot – and the fans – the problem’s going to be deciding who gets into the team, given the strength in depth they’ve got up front. With Florian Wirtz on form and Alexander Isak due back from injury, it’s a case of who’s going to get left out. But the beauty of the Premier League schedule is that you can rotate your team, try different combinations, and give people a rest or a run out depending on the situation.
While Isak’s pedigree and price tag mean he’s always going to be a first-choice striker when fit, Ekitike’s emergence means that Liverpool now have real competition for places up front. And that’s a problem – what, you might ask? – that they can only welcome.
If Ekitike keeps going the way he is, it’s only a matter of time before he’s being talked about in the same breath as Europe’s absolute top strikers – not as a potential future star, but as a player who’s already making it happen.”
