Liverpool star Hugo Ekitike has made a flying start to life on Merseyside but he’s named one Premier League striker who he wants to ‘be like’ when it comes to his finishing under Arne Slot.
Former Eintracht Frankfurt star Hugo Ekitike moved to Liverpool in the summer after a solid campaign in the Bundesliga, where he scored 15 goals in 33 games for the German outfit in the league, tempting Arne Slot to make a move for his services.
Although Liverpool’s signing of Alexander Isak from Newcastle grabbed the headlines, that wasn’t until later in the window and Ekitike pounced upon that chance for minutes by scoring three goals in his opening five Premier League clashes.
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That’s enough to rank him joint-eighth in the top goalscorer standings in the top-flight. But Liverpool star Ekitike has named the man who sits comfortably top of those rankings in Erling Haaland as the best finisher in the league.
Erling Haaland in action for Manchester City during a Premier League clash against Burnley
Photo by Matt McNulty/Getty Images
Hugo Ekitike makes Erling Haaland admission as the best talisman in England
This season alone, there is no doubting that Erling Haaland is the best striker in the Premier League, with Peter Crouch labelling Haaland as better than Alexander Isak.
11 goals is almost double the next best goalscorer in Bournemouth’s Antoine Semenyo, whilst he also has three goals in two Champions League games, and an incredible nine Norway goals in just three matches for his home nation since September’s international break.
It’s the best start he’s made to any campaign and that has seen Hugo Ekitike admit that he wants to emulate the 25-year-old when it comes to tucking chances away.
Pressed to name the best finishers in the Premier League, Ekitike said with a smile on ESPN: “Me…”, before adding: “I think it’s [Erling] Haaland.
“Haaland is clinical. Obviously like his aggressiveness, but also the calm he has in front of the goal.
“I’m really looking to be like him. He’s a very top, top striker.”
Haaland is just four goals from making the Premier League’s ‘100 Club’, an outstanding feat inside just 105 games.
Hugo Ekitike of Liverpool celebrates scoring his team's first goal with teammate Jeremie Frimpong during the 2025 FA Community Shield match between Crystal Palace and Liverpool at Wembley Stadium on August 10, 2025
Photo by Michael Regan – The FA/The FA via Getty Images
Erling Haaland can break incredible Premier League record by 2030
Former Borussia Dortmund star Erling Haaland joined Manchester City in 2022, and has since produced form averaging a goal every 1.09 matches over his three-and-a-quarter seasons in the top-flight.
If he keeps up that rate of scoring, it will take him just 285 games to beat Alan Shearer’s all-time Premier League record.
Given he’s already played 105 matches, that means Haaland would only need another 180 outings to match that record.
Player Premier League matches Premier League goals Goals per game
Alan Shearer 441 260 0.58
Erling Haaland 105 96 0.91
The same rate of goals over five seasons of consistent matches would be enough for him to break that record.
Effectively, we could see Haaland break the Premier League record as early as winter 2030 if he continues to flourish without injuries at Manchester City.
Fans will be hoping he doesn’t move as the long-standing record threatens to be beaten by the 6ft 5in star.