Ekitike Shines in Liverpool’s Victory, Drawing Parallels to Torres

The Reds delivered a commanding performance to secure a victory over Newcastle at Anfield, with Ekitike scoring a clinical brace that brought his season tally to 15 goals across all competitions. His second goal particularly captured the attention of the Kop, eliciting murmurs of recognition.

Ekitike showcased his remarkable pace as he raced onto a through ball in the inside-left channel, leaving the Newcastle defense in his wake. With a composed finish, he expertly slotted the ball past the goalkeeper using a cheeky toe-poke. This goal echoed the iconic first strike of Fernando Torres for Liverpool against Chelsea in 2007, a moment that marked ‘El Niño’s’ arrival in the Premier League.

The resemblance was not lost on the club’s media team, who further fueled the comparison after the match by posting a side-by-side video of the two goals. The clip emphasized the similarities in their runs, body shapes, and the signature finishes that characterized Torres’ explosive debut season at Liverpool.

“We thought that one looked familiar,” read the caption accompanying the footage.

In the TNT Sports studio, Steven Gerrard, who played a pivotal role in assisting Torres during his tenure, was enthusiastic in his appraisal of the 23-year-old striker.

“It’s Torres-like. He just gets it out of his feet, and it’s that toe poke. Every time I watch him, he reminds me of Torres,” Gerrard remarked during the post-match analysis.

“He scores similar types of goals; if you give him space in the channel, he’ll exploit it with his incredible speed. He’s lethal. There are many parallels—pace and power, the ability to score and assist.”

For Ekitike, who joined Liverpool under considerable expectation due to his substantial transfer fee, Gerrard’s endorsement will undoubtedly serve as a significant confidence boost as Arne Slot’s side aims to solidify their position in the top four.

Despite the glowing comparisons, Ekitike was quick to downplay the hype in a candid interview. He revealed that his familiarity with Torres’ prime years came not from live broadcasts, but rather from clips he watched online, due to his family’s limited budget during his childhood in France.

“Back in the day, I couldn’t watch the Premier League to be honest; my mum didn’t pay for it, so I couldn’t see! I have watched some clips on YouTube,” Ekitike confessed with a smile.

“I will never place myself in that bracket. He was an incredible player. If I reach his level, that would be fantastic. I just need to keep working.”

While the young forward is eager to carve out his own legacy at Anfield, if he maintains his current form reminiscent of Torres, the Kop will certainly continue to make the comparisons.