Hugo Ekitike has ‘every little thing’ and strikes like former fan favorite – Liverpool shall be scary when Alexander Isak will get match
Hugo Ekitike is the ‘absolute actual deal’ and his performances have been paying homage to a primary Fernando Torres.
That is the view of The Athletic’s Liverpool reporter James Pearce, who has hailed the summer season signing‘s influence after his two targets impressed the Reds to a 4-1 victory over Newcastle.
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After Anthony Gordon gave the Magpies the lead at Anfield, Ekitike turned the sport on its head with a quick-fire double minutes later.
Second-half targets from Florian Wirtz and Ibrahima Konate wrapped up the three factors for Arne Slot‘s facet, but it surely was the Frenchman’s show which caught the attention.
Ekitike took his Premier League tally to 10 targets for the season, as he saved up his incredible begin to life in a Liverpool shirt.
The 23-year-old has been the Reds’ standout performer this time period following his £79million arrival from Eintracht Frankfurt.
He leads the membership’s goalscoring charts within the Premier League, and throughout all competitions, whereas his numbers are made extra spectacular by the actual fact he has outshone British file signing Alexander Isak.
Ekitike has established himself as Liverpool’s first-choice striker, in addition to shouldering goalscoring obligations after Isak suffered a damaged leg in December.
Ekitike receives plaudits
One man who was stuffed with reward for Ekitike was Liverpool correspondent Pearce, who hailed the France worldwide for taking every little thing in his stride since becoming a member of the membership.
Pearce likened his quick begin to life to that of former Liverpool hero Torres, who scored 24 Premier League targets in his debut season.
Talking on talkSPORT’s Inside Liverpool, the reporter mentioned: “I simply suppose he is been an absolute revelation.
“And whenever you suppose again to final summer season, there was this expectation when Liverpool signed Isak that was like: ‘Properly, Ekitike goes to be the sidekick actually’. And he is properly and actually blown that one out of the water.
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“He is embraced the accountability as properly, as a result of since Isak broke his leg in early December, there’s been a lot strain on him to ship but he relishes it.
“I simply suppose he is obtained every little thing you need in a centre ahead. Tempo, energy, he is combative, his work ethic is totally spot on.”
‘It was pure Torres’
Pearce did not cease there with the Torres comparisons, as he claimed Ekitike’s second aim in opposition to Newcastle was a carbon copy of the Spaniard’s first ever Liverpool aim in 2007.
In opposition to the Magpies, Ekitike latched on to Milos Kerkez‘s ball on the left, earlier than driving previous Malick Thiaw and ending clinically.
He continued: “That second aim – it was pure Torres wasn’t it? Torres in opposition to Chelsea on his house debut again in 2007.
“It was virtually the identical patch of grass when it comes to bursting previous the defender on the surface, and the unbelievable end into the far nook.”
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And Pearce admitted Ekitike might simply go on to exceed the 20-goal mark this time period, as he claimed the striker has solved Liverpool’s long-term seek for a confirmed goalscorer.
He continued: “I believe that was 15 targets he’s obtained to his title now, there’s no cause why he couldn’t go on and get 25 this season.
“It feels prefer it’s been a very long time since Liverpool had a centre ahead fairly like him, clearly Suarez blossomed after a comparatively sluggish begin and had that unbelievable 12 months in 2013/14.
“However then after all for a lot of the Klopp period – Firmino was such a key cog within the machine however he wasn’t a massively prolific goalscorer, he was a false 9 quite than a correct quantity 9.
“Then they tried to go in a distinct path with Darwin Nunez. He was too erratic and did not ship on a constant foundation
“However Ekitike is absolutely the actual deal.”
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Ekitike and Isak link-up a ‘horrifying thought’
Becoming a member of Pearce within the studio was former skilled boxer and big Reds fan Paul Smith, who admitted the perfect might nonetheless be but to return, if he can strike up a partnership with Wirtz and Isak.
Smith chimed in: “It sounds foolish as a result of [Mohamed] Salah has put these numbers up yearly, however he is a winger.
“For Liverpool to have a striker, a quantity 9 of that calibre – we’ve not had somebody who’s placing 20, 25 targets per season in that place for some time. It’s nice information for me.
“However clearly Isak’s sitting there as properly. It is a horrifying thought and I hope that they will slot in or match into the identical staff.
“But when they do, with Wirtz behind them or Wirtz some other place in that staff as properly, it is a horrifying thought.
“I do know we tried initially of the season, however they had been all simply bedding in and gelling actually.”
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