Liverpool return to Premier League action against Sunderland on Wednesday, with Wayne Rooney comparing Hugo Ekitike to one of Regis Le Bris’ stars.
The Reds fell to a 2-1 defeat at the hands of Manchester City last time out, meaning they have won just one in seven.
Dominik Szoboszlai is out against Sunderland, depleting Arne Slot’s right-back options even further.
Unlike Liverpool, Le Bris’ men are overachieving this season, and a tough match is expected.
In turn, Slot will likely need to rely heavily on Hugo Ekitike to step up when Wednesday rolls around.
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Luis Suarez prior to Nashville SC v Inter Miami CF - 2025 MLS Cup Playoffs. Hugo Ekitike celebrates after scoring for Liverpool during their UEFA Champions League match against Qarabag at Anfield.
Credit: Johnnie Izquierdo/Justin Setterfield/Getty Images
Wayne Rooney ranks Hugo Ekitike alongside Sunderland player
The Frenchman has 15 goals to his name this season and has formed a brilliant connection with Florian Wirtz.
Wirtz took some time to adapt to life at Anfield, but Ekitike has been firing since his summer move from Eintracht Frankfurt.
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In turn, it isn’t surprising to see Wayne Rooney, speaking on his podcast The Wayne Rooney Show, say the Liverpool striker and Granit Xhaka are probably the two best signings made from the 2025 summer window.
He said: “Ekitike and [Granit] Xhaka at Sunderland have probably been the two best signings in the Premier League.
“I really enjoy watching Ekitike play. His second goal against Newcastle in particular was brilliant, it reminds me of Romario. A little toe-poke goal but it’s instinctive.
“He is the type of player I like to watch. He’s not a number nine, he’s not a number 10. He drifts out wide, he gets on the ball, brings players into the game and he can score goals. So he’s got a bit of everything really.”
Rank Liverpool’s summer signings from first to last! 🤔
Florian Wirtz – Bayer Leverkusen (£116m)
Hugo Ekitike – Eintracht Frankfurt (£79m)
Milos Kerkez – Bournemouth (£40m)
Jeremie Frimpong – Bayer Leverkusen (£29.5m)
Giovanni Leoni – Parma (£26m)
Alexander Isak – Newcastle United (£125m)
Giorgi Mamardashvili – Valencia (£29m)
Hugo Ekitike gestures towards the Liverpool crowd after scoring during the Premier League match against Newcastle at Anfield.
Credit: Stu Forster/ Getty Images
Who has been Liverpool’s best summer signing?
Liverpool spent over £400m in the 2025 summer transfer window on seven first-team players.
So far, Giovanni Leoni has hardly featured because of a long-term injury issue.
Alexander Isak has had similar fitness concerns and is currently out until around March.
In reality, Milos Kerkez, Jeremie Frimpong, Wirtz and Ekitike are the only players who have shown any promise since moving to Anfield.
But as Frimpong, Kerkez and Wirtz had mixed starts, it seems clear the former Frankfurt man has been the best signing so far.
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