Ekitike’s Rising Impact in the Premier League

Hugo Ekitike has seamlessly transitioned into Premier League life after his substantial transfer for an initial fee of £69 million (approximately $93 million/€80 million). The 23-year-old forward faced a notable challenge moving from Eintracht Frankfurt but has distinguished himself among Liverpool’s summer signings.

With a commendable tally of eight league goals and 11 across all competitions, Ekitike ranks among the top scorers in the Premier League, trailing only Erling Haaland and Igor Thiago. His recent performance, featuring five goals in his last three matches, indicates that the six-cap France international is elevating his game at a crucial time, especially with Alexander Isak expected to be sidelined for an extended period due to a broken leg.

Head Coach Slot has taken note of Ekitike’s dedication and work ethic off the pitch, highlighting his continuous efforts to improve both defensively and offensively for the benefit of the team. Slot commented:

“He has demonstrated immense dedication to reach his current fitness level. At times, it required some persuasion for him to realize the importance of this effort in becoming stronger, yet he always complied.

“Although he doesn’t always wear a smile, he has diligently worked to enhance his fitness both on and off the field. I have emphasized that a solid defense during set-pieces increases our chances of scoring at the other end.

“When the score is 0-0, it’s easier to find the back of the net than when we’re trailing 1-0. This perspective may seem peculiar, but it significantly influences the energy levels of the opposing team. For Ekitike to excel in scoring, it’s imperative that we minimize concessions from set-pieces.

“He has worked diligently to reach where he is today, and I believe he is ready to tackle our upcoming challenges. However, he is not the sole option for the No. 9 position, as Federico Chiesa can also fulfill that role, allowing me to substitute Ekitike if he is fatigued.”

In the wake of a tumultuous autumn, Slot has witnessed Liverpool rebound into the Premier League’s top five, embarking on a six-match unbeaten streak across all competitions, with their latest victory being a 2-1 win away at Tottenham Hotspur, where Ekitike scored the decisive goal.

Slot elaborated on the factors contributing to this turnaround for the Reds:

“Aside from our second half at Brighton, the key change has been that we are not conceding as many chances as we did previously. Additionally, I think we’ve experienced a bit more luck than before.

“In previous matches, we dominated in every aspect but often fell short in terms of results. In our last match against Spurs, the chances created were fairly even, as they were against Brighton as well. However, we managed to secure victories in both.

“Often, we have been unfortunate with our results. In the last two games, while I wouldn’t say we didn’t deserve to win, the matches were more balanced compared to others we lost. This unpredictability is a compelling aspect of football, where performance does not always translate to outcomes.”

Liverpool will face the bottom-placed Wolves in the Premier League on Saturday, aiming to maintain their positive momentum following the holiday season.

Ekitike aspires to be pivotal in this continued push up the table, especially in light of Isak’s absence, along with the injuries to Cody Gakpo and Mohamed Salah, who is participating in AFCON.