Liverpool played rather poorly against Burnley on Sunday.
The Reds ended up winning their game against Burnley 1-0 thanks to a last-minute penalty from Mohamed Salah, and, even though that should be celebrated, it doesn’t mean that the performances of players such as Milos Kerkez should be forgotten about.
Many expected Arne Slot’s men to walk all over the Clarets, especially after their first three Premier League performances.
In the end, however, that’s not how things panned out with Liverpool’s first-team squad mostly being miles off the pace.
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However, there was one of Slot’s men who caught the eye of Leon Osman.
Hugo Ekitike earns plaudits from Leon Osman for his Liverpool performance
Hugo Ekitike has arguably been Liverpool’s best player this season.
The Frenchman has been in top form since his transfer from Eintracht Frankfurt, and even though Alexander Isak has just joined, it’s clear that the striker is still firmly in Slot’s plans.
Although most people thought that the guaranteed fee of £69million was too much for the number nine, he’s since managed to prove them wrong.
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And, while speaking on BBC Radio Five Live, former Everton legend Leon Osman gave his thoughts on a moment Ekitike produced.
“Brilliant individual skill from Hugo Ekitike. A lovely stepover to beat Josh Laurent, but there is nobody there for a tap-in,” he said.
Hugo Ekitike was the creative spark for Liverpool once again
The moment in question was arguably Liverpool’s best chance of the first half.
Ryan Gravenberch picked the ball up from deep in the Reds’ own half, Ekitike then peeled away from his man and made a diagonal run towards the corner flag.
He then managed to keep the ball, get past Kyle Walker and then he almost bagged himself a goal, but his shot just went past the post.
Indeed, if one of Liverpool’s players chose to follow the ball into the box, they’d have easily gone 1-0 up.
Arne Slot puts his hands on his head during Arsenal game
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Although the Reds’ fans will be excited to see Isak make his debut, one of the toughest decisions Slot will have to make is what to do with Ekitike.
The striker has been among his best-performing players this season, and, even though Isak had an impressive season himself last year, he can’t just be allowed to force the former Frankfurt man out of the starting XI.