Tony Cascarino rates Hugo Ekitike highly, but he nevertheless places a limit on the potential of Liverpool’s star striker.
Ekitike has proven himself to be one of the signings of the season, not just for Liverpool, but across the Premier League.
With 11 league goals, Ekitike has already equalled Luis Suarez’s debut season tally. There are still ten games to play.
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As proficient as he has been in that regard, Cascarino doesn’t see him becoming the kind of striker who will score 25+ every season.
Tony Cascarino explains his Hugo Ekitike goal-cap
The former Ireland international isn’t trying to slight Ekitike. He just doesn’t see that as being the predominant aspect of his game.
As he said on talkSPORT in the fallout of Liverpool’s win over West Ham: “Yeah look, Liverpool are capable. Ekitike is a player who, you know, he’s going to get goals. I don’t think, and I said it yesterday and I hope I’m wrong, but he never feels like he’s going to be a 25-30 goals a season man to me.
Hugo Ekitike celebrates goal for Liverpool
Photo by Paul ELLIS / AFP via Getty Images
“But he’s going to have a massive impact on the season because he’s just such a talent. And what’s he got now? 10 or 11 Premier League goals at the moment. But I hope there’s room for improvement because he’s a very young man.”
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Cascarino does not expect Ekitike to be a perennial contender for the Golden Boot — an admittedly tall task as long as Erling Haaland is in the league.
He’s probably also factoring in the fact that Liverpool have another elite number nine in Alexander Isak.
Hitting 25 league goals in the top flight is no easy feat, and doing it every season is something few can manage.
Tony Cascarino glad to see Joe Gomez at right-back
As well as Ekitike, the talkSPORT host discussed Joe Gomez returning for Liverpool.
He’s not a fan of the constant change that has been taking place in the position.
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He explained: “I’m glad he played Gomez at right back yesterday. I really am because I think there’s been too much messing around with whether it’s been Curtis Jones playing there, or Szoboszlai playing right back.
“And look, Connor Bradley’s had a terrible injury, Frimpong’s on the way back. I’m glad he played Gomez as a right back yesterday because he’s just more naturally a defender.”
Arne Slot has been forced into plenty of swapping and changing at right-back. With Frimpong and Gomez now back, that added tactical flexibility will be a boost in the coming weeks.
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