Liverpool 2-0 Brighton: match review
Arne Slot discussed the progress of Hugo Ekitike who scored a double in Liverpool’s 2-0 win over Brighton.
Arne Slot believes that Hugo Ekitike’s goals are not just signs that he is progressing after firing Liverpool to victory over Brighton.
The France international, signed for up to £79 million from Eintracht Frankfurt in the summer transfer window, also bagged a brace in last weekend’s 3-3 draw at Leeds United. He has found the back of the net 10 times for the Reds, with seven in the Premier League. Liverpool’s triumph moved them up to sixth in the table.
Ekitike was withdrawn in the closing stages as he was suffering from cramp. And Slot believes that the 23-year-old is adapting to the rigours of such an intense fixture schedule, having run ‘twice as much as in games at the beginning of the season’.
The Liverpool head coach said: “Just before I took him off there was a moment, I don't know what happened, but I think he hardly could walk anymore because of cramp. What I see with him and I see this with all the players we've brought in this summer, they had to adapt to the Premier League, to that intensity, because they were all young. All the players we brought in are young players, except for Alex [Isak], but all the others are very young.
So, adapting to the Premier League, that intensity, some of them had to adapt to the Premier League and [the] Champions League. I see all of them making progress in that. So, Hugo has cramp today but I can assure you that he did probably twice as much as in games in the beginning of the season where I had to take him off with cramp as well. That is what this league brings. If you cannot be so intense for such a long time, it's so hard to win a game of football because the best players, athletes, in the world play in this league, and we are trying to prepare them more and more, better and better for that – and I can see that progress with most of our signings, maybe all of them.”
‘Getting strong and stronger’
Speaking to LFCTV, Slot added that he sees Ekitike getting ‘stronger and stronger’ during every game. The Anfield boss added: “What I mainly see is people focusing on his goal. Football is a low-scoring sport so goals are really important. But I also see a different thing where he gets better and he gets stronger and stronger.
“So it’s getting more difficult for the other players of other teams to get him off the ball. He’s getting more and more energy to keep on running with and without the ball and he’s not the only one I see this with. Many of the players we’ve brought in have had to adapt to the Premier League and Champions League are improving in terms of football and intensity and fitness-wise.”
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