Has there been a better summer signing than Hugo Ekitike to Liverpool?
In short, no. The Frenchman has lit up the Premier League during his first months at Anfield.
Regardless of how highly you rated Ekitike at Frankfurt, the way he has started life at Liverpool has been incredible.
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Touted as the backup to Alexander Isak, Ekitike is challenging that narrative and giving Arne Slot an impossible decision to make up front.
Well, that was until Isak’s nasty injury that will keep him sidelined for the next couple of months. Now, Ekitike is the starting striker at Liverpool, and he intends to put his stamp on the position.
How would you rate Hugo Ekitike’s Liverpool career out of 10 so far?
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Hugo Ekitike wins Liverpool POTM and makes a sharp statement
To the surprise of absolutely no one, Ekitike was voted Liverpool’s Player of the Month for December — a month in which he scored five times and assisted once in six appearances.
That includes braces against Brighton and Leeds and the decisive goal against Spurs. Ian Rush called Ekitike a ‘fantastic’ striker.
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And the man himself made some interesting comments when accepting the award.
Hugo Ekitike during Leeds United v Liverpool - Premier League
Photo by Alex Livesey/Getty Images
He told Liverpoolfc.com: “I feel really good here. As I always say, I enjoy playing football in my life. I really enjoy being here with all my teammates and all the people here in the club.
“I think it helps also mentally, I feel great. Since the start. I had a very good feeling when I joined here, and now I’m sure.”
Despite Liverpool’s struggles this season, Ekitike has made his mind up that this is where he wants to be. Now, he needs to keep the momentum up. He could be one of the very best in the world.
Hugo Ekitike is far from satisfied
Despite setting Anfield alight in his first months as a Red, Ekitike wants more.
While reflecting on the month of December and the performances that earned him both the Liverpool award and a nomination for the PFA Premier League Fans’ Player of the Month award, the elegant centre-forward clearly thinks he could have done better.
He said: “It has been a really good month for me and for the team. I am proud and happy and I hope many more are coming.
“I could score more and give more assists but it was a pretty good month, good wins as well, which was the most important thing for us. I’m happy that I helped the team.”
How does Arne Slot fit Hugo Ekitike into Liverpool’s best XI?
Hugo Ekitike pictured during Liverpool's Premier League match against West Ham United at the London Stadium
Photo by Liverpool FC/Liverpool FC via Getty Images
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It’s crazy to think that Liverpool’s third-biggest signing of the summer could be this good. Wirtz is now coming into his own, while Isak will (hopefully) be able to get back to his Newcastle heights once he returns.
There’s been a lot of negativity around Liverpool’s summer business, but there’s still every chance we look back at it in a few years and wonder how we brought so much talent into the club in one go.
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