Hugo Ekitike has made an impressive start to life in the Premier League after his high-profile £69 million ($93m/€80m) move from Eintracht Frankfurt. The 23-year-old striker has quickly adapted to English football, standing out among Liverpool’s summer signings. Below you will see information about is news which has been summarized The Football Insight.
“His eight league goals and 11 in all competitions put him near the top of Liverpool’s scoring charts, with Ekitike scoring five times in his last three matches and hitting peak form at a crucial moment for the team.”
With Alexander Isak now sidelined by a broken leg, the French forward is stepping into a more prominent role. His performance demonstrates that Liverpool can rely on him to lead the line during this challenging period.
Slot Praises Ekitike’s Hard Work
Liverpool manager Arne Slot has highlighted Ekitike’s determination to improve both on and off the pitch. Slot revealed that the striker has dedicated himself to becoming fitter and stronger, even when the process wasn’t always easy.
“He’s shown a lot of hard work to get to this fitness level. Sometimes it took convincing him that all of this was needed to become stronger, but he always did it,” Slot explained. The manager emphasized that Ekitike’s defensive contribution in set-pieces is crucial to increasing the team’s scoring opportunities.
Slot also noted that Ekitike’s work ethic goes beyond fitness. By understanding that reducing conceded chances improves his goal-scoring chances, the striker has become more complete and ready to face demanding fixtures.
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Liverpool’s Turnaround Under Slot
Liverpool have experienced a strong resurgence after a difficult autumn. Slot’s side is now in the Premier League’s top five, thanks to a six-match unbeaten streak, including a 2-1 victory over Tottenham where Ekitike scored the winner.
Slot attributed the improvement to better defensive performances and a touch of luck. “The main thing that has changed is that we haven’t conceded as many chances as before. We’ve also been a bit more lucky in recent games,” he said.
Despite the results, Slot emphasized that the team’s performance is not always reflected in the scoreline. Matches against Brighton and Spurs were closely contested, but Liverpool managed to secure the points, highlighting both improved resilience and a winning mentality.
Ekitike’s Role in Upcoming Fixtures
Looking ahead, Ekitike is set to play a key role as Liverpool face Premier League bottom club Wolves. The Reds aim to continue their strong run, especially while missing several key players. Slot has options in attack, mentioning Federico Chiesa as another forward capable of playing in the No. 9 role.
However, Ekitike is expected to carry the main responsibility, particularly as Liverpool push for points in the coming weeks. The French striker’s combination of skill, fitness, and work ethic gives Liverpool fans reason to be optimistic. Follow footballcoasters.co.uk for weekly deep dives into football’s biggest stories.