Hugo Ekitike of Liverpool celebrates scoring his team's first goal during the Premier League match between Liverpool and Newcastle United at Anfield on January 31, 2026 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images)placeholder image
Hugo Ekitike of Liverpool celebrates scoring his team's first goal during the Premier League match between Liverpool and Newcastle United at Anfield on January 31, 2026 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Hugo Ekitike scored twice for Liverpool as they beat Newcastle United 4-1 at Anfield on Saturday night.
The Magpies led 1-0 through Anthony Gordon’s 36th-minute strike yet found themselves 2-1 down just seven minutes later following Ekitike’s quickfire double.
Florian Wirtz and Ibrahima Konate scored in the second half to secure Liverpool’s biggest Premier League win of the season and inflict Newcastle’s heaviest defeat.
It’s now three goals in two matches for Ekitike against Newcastle after the club tried and failed to sign the French forward on multiple occasions.
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Eddie Howe praises ‘top player’ Hugo Ekitike
Ahead of the match, Newcastle head coach Eddie Howe said about Ekitike: “A very, very good player. I think it is well known that I have liked him for a number of years. I tried to sign him twice.
“He has got a bit of everything. He has great movement, can score with both feet, he's good in the air and dribbles with the ball really well.
“He is someone we are going to have to do really, really well against and I thought we did relatively well against him in the first game but, of course, he scored. He is a big talent.”
Following the 4-1 defeat, Howe added: “Hugo Ekitike played really well and I have said he is a top player and that has shown today.”
After Newcastle missed out on Ekitike to Liverpool in the summer, The Reds then moved to sign Alexander Isak for £130million. The former Newcastle man is currently out injured and was forced to watch on from the sidelines as Ekitike netted his 14th and 15th goals of the season in all competitions.
"I want to score loads of goals and I want to be the top scorer of the club but I just want to be involved the team I just like football, if I give an assist, I don't mind,” Ekitike told TNT Sport after the match.
The French forward then caused a stir as he added: “Even though it wasn't the best opponent we have had, because I would say it was a big win and easy win. But I think it is nice to give the confidence to the players."
Some took his comments as a reference to Newcastle though, in reality, it was a response to Liverpool’s 6-0 win over Qarabag in midweek.
Still, the 23-year-old was able to rile up the travelling Newcastle supporters at Anfield on Saturday night.
Hugo Ekitike taunts NUFC fans after snubbing the club three times
Ekitike turned down the chance to join Newcastle twice in 2022 and once again in 2025 before Liverpool swooped in.
As a result, the striker was subject to some abuse from the travelling supporters but ended up having the last laugh as he left the field in the closing stages.
The forward stuck his tongue out at the Newcastle fans and held up his fingers to reference the 3-1 scoreline at the time.
When asked about the prospect of abuse from Newcastle fans during the match, Ekitike said: "I don't care - I play for Liverpool. I have my fans here.
“I made my choice. I knew where I wanted to come, and I'm where I wanted to come."
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