Anfield fell quiet after Anthony Gordon celebrated his Thirty sixth-minute objective for Newcastle United, pointing defiantly towards the Kop. The ahead’s strike put the guests forward towards Liverpool, elevating questions on whether or not the hosts would undergo their first Premier League house loss to Newcastle since 1994 or prolong a winless streak to 6 video games. Liverpool’s Hugo Ekitike rapidly modified the narrative, equalizing with a pointy poacher’s end after which including a second earlier than halftime to safe a 4-1 victory.
Ekitike Shines for Liverpool
The 23-year-old French ahead’s quick-fire brace delighted supervisor Arne Slot, who highlighted Ekitike’s quick influence. “The followers love him,” Slot acknowledged post-match. “From the beginning, everybody may see how particular he’s, how briskly he’s.”
Ekitike’s objectives marked one other chapter in his prolific season, bringing his Liverpool tally to fifteen within the league. Newcastle’s scouting group had lengthy admired these ending expertise, having pursued the striker thrice, together with final summer time. Even Newcastle coach Eddie Howe praised the efficiency whereas noting defensive lapses. “Generally you need to acknowledge the participant towards you whereas additionally acknowledging we may have defended higher,” Howe mentioned. “Ekitike is an impressive participant and also you noticed that immediately. He is received a little bit little bit of every little thing and that is his greatest energy. He is tall, fast and he can end.”
Newcastle’s Missed Alternative
Newcastle first focused Ekitike in 2022 at age 19, when he performed for Reims. The younger striker expressed respect for the membership however selected to remain mid-season. Months later, he moved to Paris Saint-Germain as an alternative of becoming a member of the Magpies, adopted by a stint at Eintracht Frankfurt. Final summer time, Liverpool outmaneuvered them to signal Ekitike—and later Alexander Isak from Newcastle—leaving followers annoyed.
Former Newcastle goalkeeper Shay Given voiced the frustration, saying, “It hurts me from a Newcastle standpoint. [Ekitike] could possibly be carrying a black-and-white shirt. He’s sensible at stretching defences. He has picked Liverpool and of all of the signings they did make in the summertime, he has been the standout.” Newcastle all the time believed Ekitike would excel within the Premier League, and his type has validated that view.
Document-Breaking Evening and Torres Echoes
Ekitike grew to become the youngest Liverpool participant to succeed in double-digit league objectives since Michael Owen within the 2000-01 season. His second objective drew hanging parallels to Fernando Torres’ debut strike for Liverpool towards Chelsea in 2007. Latching onto Milos Kerkez’s cross down the left channel, Ekitike powered previous Malick Thiaw and slotted house with precision.
Steven Gerrard, who assisted Torres’ iconic objective, seen the resemblance. “It’s all about Hugo Ekitike working the channel,” Gerrard noticed on TNT Sports activities. “It’s Torres-like. He will get out of his toes and that toe-poke… He jogs my memory of Torres each time I watch him.”
Rising Partnership with Wirtz
Ekitike’s chemistry with Florian Wirtz mirrors Gerrard and Torres’ deadly hyperlink from 2007 to 2011. The duo, shut off the pitch, have mixed for six objectives throughout competitions—greater than another Premier League pair this season.
Slot defined their rising synergy: “Hugo was scoring numerous objectives from the beginning of the season and Florian was concerned quite a bit in creating possibilities for his team-mates and was unfortunate that balls didn’t go in. It was not all the time potential to play them collectively each three days. That’s what I imply once I discuss off the ball and match health—to have the ability to play each three days. That took some time for them to play at the most effective of their stage on the highest depth each three days. They’re getting nearer and nearer, and it’s no shock the numbers are going up.”
