Liverpool have had some excellent number nines over the years, with Hugo Ekitike the latest striker to excel at Anfield.
While summer additions like Florian Wirtz and Milos Kerkez took some time to get up to speed at Anfield, the Frenchman was an instant hit.
Ekitike has been tipped to become a Ballon d’Or contender by supporters after his starring role in the 2025/26 season.
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Who did it better?
Szoboszlai or Gerrard?
Dominik Szoboszlai scores with a free-kick during Liverpool's UEFA Champions League match against Marseille at the Stade Velodrome (Credit: Getty Images/Justin Setterfield).
Steven Gerrard scores for Liverpool during their UEFA Champions League match against Marseille at the Stade Velodrome (Getty Images/Clive Brunskill).
Photo Credit: Getty Images/Justin Setterfield/Clive Brusnkill
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He is Liverpool’s top goalscorer with 12 netted across all competitions, and already looks set to be a better centre-forward signing than Alexander Isak.
Ekitike and Isak are the first proper number nines the club have had for a while, with Jurgen Klopp previously preferring more versatile options like Roberto Firmino.
But prior to the Jurgen Klopp era, Liverpool fans were able to watch some world-class strikers, including Robbie Fowler.
Robbie Fowler would have scored more goals at Manchester United
Fowler began his senior career on Merseyside in 1992 before eventually moving to Leeds in 2001.
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He went on to play 369 games, score 183 goals and provide 50 assists for Liverpool.
But speaking on the latest episode of Stick To Football, Gary Neville reckons the now 50-year-old would have scored a lot more had he played for Manchester United.
He said: “I made the statement if Robbie Fowler had grown up at United under Alex Ferguson’s guidance in that sort of dressing room, to be fair, where we weren’t allowed to go out at the same levels as you were, and I knew that what Liverpool lads were doing, because we could see them sometimes in Manchester, in different bars.
“My point is, is that you’d hear about it, and I knew, because I’m playing with England, there were a group of players at Liverpool that time, there was a big drinking culture, and maybe there was a United dressing room a little bit, but I felt like it was a lot more under control, and particularly the young lads. I’m all right to say that if Robbie had been in that Alex Ferguson dressing room, he would have been sort of like at 300 goals in the Premier League, he’d have been completely different.”
What did you think of Salah’s return to the starting XI?
It was his first start since November 26th 😱
Mohamed Salah puts his hand on his head after missing a chance during Liverpool's UEFA Champions League match against Marseille at Stade Velodrome (Getty Images/Justin Setterfield).
Photo Credit: Getty Images/Justin Setterfield
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Robbie Fowler on leaving Liverpool for Leeds United
After over a decade at Liverpool, Fowler secured a transfer to Elland Road in the winter of 2001.
His time with Leeds was short, but he still scored 14 goals in just 33 matches across all competitions.
Fowler explained his decision to depart Anfield at the time, as per Sky Sports.
He said: “I have had nearly 15 years with Liverpool and eight wonderful years in the Liverpool team.
“But I think it must be obvious to everyone that the time has come to move on.
“It was always going to be a difficult decision to leave Liverpool, because even if I have my own reasons, the fans there were a powerful reason for me to stay.
“But Leeds are a great club, and the chance to be part of what is happening at Elland Road was too good to miss, particularly under the current circumstances.”
Fowler then moved to Manchester City in 2003 and eventually called time on his playing career nine years later after leaving Kolkata.
In total, he scored 248 career goals in 572 matches for various clubs.
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