In the last couple of months, it’s as if a light has been switched on for Liverpool in their search for a new striker, with Hugo Ekitike proving to be exactly the kind of talisman the club needed. While his 33-match stint at Paris Saint-Germain remains a blot on his career timeline, Luis Enrique had some interesting things to say about the Frenchman before letting him spread his wings in the Premier League.
Mohamed Salah isn’t getting any younger, and the Reds were forced to bid farewell to several key attacking players over the summer, including Luis Diaz, Darwin Nunez, and, tragically, Diogo Jota. There was therefore an urgent need to evolve their frontline, with the future under Arne Slot hanging in the balance.
Whereas Alexander Isak, bought on deadline day for a British-record £125 million, was expected to lead the line, it has been his understudy who has exceeded expectations. Now with 15 goals and four assists in his first 32 appearances for the club, it’s certainly interesting to hear what his former manager thought of him before letting him go.
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Hugo Ekitike
Having been signed from Reims for around £30m, Ekitike went on to make just 33 appearances for PSG, scoring only four times. The young striker initially struggled to make an impact under Christophe Galtier, but the arrival of Enrique in the summer of 2023 offered the promise of a fresh start at the club.
At first, it seemed likely that Ekitike would be among those to benefit from Enrique’s arrival. It’s claimed that Enrique was far more of a supporter of Ekitike than the PSG board. The manager was said to "appreciate his qualities" and was more inclined to retain the player than the higher-ups at the club, according to Rousing the Kop.
luis enrique psg-1
Ultimately, however, things didn’t click for Ekitike as he tried and failed to dislodge the likes of Kylian Mbappe. Despite a promising pre-season, Enrique gave him just one appearance in the first half of 2023/24 before sending him on loan to Frankfurt in January. “I will never say that I did everything well. I could have done better, that’s the truth, but no one helped me to do better,” he told L’Equipe last March, reflecting on why his time in the French capital was so difficult.
“No one gave me confidence. Even during training, even through discussions. No one ever really took the time to talk with me to be able to help me.” His words carry weight, given how he has since flourished elsewhere - first in Frankfurt, and now on Merseyside.
Ekitike Draws Comparisons to Fernando Torres at Anfield
Liverpool's Hugo Ekitike celebrates
Premier League - Leeds United v Liverpool - Elland Road, Leeds, Britain - December 6, 2025 Liverpool's Hugo Ekitike celebrates scoring their second goal REUTERS/Chris Radburn
During his punditry duties on TNT Sports on Saturday night, as Liverpool came from behind to beat Newcastle United 4-1, Steven Gerrard compared Ekitike to his beloved former teammate Fernando Torres. The way the Frenchman combines flair with the power and precision to punish opponents is reminiscent of what made Torres so adored on Merseyside.
Ekitike moves, acts, and scores in a similar fashion to Torres, which can only be positive for Liverpool and their plans for life after Salah. The 23-year-old knows he's good and backs it up, but perhaps even more encouraging is the healthy understanding he has developed with fellow newcomer Florian Wirtz, with the pair combining to assist each other three times each.
Wirtz also now has six goals and three assists across his last 11 appearances in all competitions. The future of Arne Slot’s side looks very bright, and it’s increasingly hard to see where Alexander Isak fits into the picture once he returns to training in the summer following a serious knee injury he sustained against Tottenham.