Hugo Ekitike may not have been the marquee striker signing in the summer, but he shouldered the majority of the responsibility before a serious injury that casts doubt on his future.
As stories out of Newcastle sought to insist both Ekitike and Alexander Isak were being set up to combine in attack at St James’ Park, Liverpool swooped in and took them both.
The Frenchman was more of an unknown quantity, plying his trade in the Bundesliga as opposed to the Premier League, but he needed little time to settle.
Ekitike’s debut season offered a strong indication of the player Liverpool had signed, but all that was turned upside down with a serious Achilles injury that ended his season and World Cup hopes.
Started34
As Sub11
Unused2
Goals17
Assists6
Total Apps45
Ekikitke had instant impact after £79 million signing
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Wednesday, January 28, 2026: Liverpool's Hugo Ekitike celebrates after scoring the fourth goal during the UEFA Champions League match between Liverpool FC and Qaraba? FK at Anfield. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
The 23-year-old’s introduction to Liverpool was during the club’s pre-season trip to Singapore after his transfer from Frankfurt, worth £79 million, was sanctioned.
With Isak still on the to-do list, his arrival was somewhat subdued. However, he endeared himself to supporters who quickly found a tune to serenade him home and away.
A goal in each of his first three appearances – against Crystal Palace, Bournemouth and Newcastle -made sure he was unburdened from any pressure and showed the talent Liverpool signed.
His quick feet, ability to take the ball around his direct defender and the confidence he could finish a one-on-one situation was a timely injection into the forward line.
With Isak suffering from a disjointed pre-season, Ekitike showed the promise that had been hoped for, and justified the club twice dipping into the market for a key forward.
Hugo Ekitike: 2025/26 Goal Contributions
Hugo Ekitike was a vital contributor in a difficult campaign, recording 17 goals and 6 assists across all competitions for the Reds.
Total LFC Goals: 101
Ekitike Involvements: 23
Impact: 22.8%
The Frenchman was directly involved in nearly a quarter of Liverpool’s goals this season.
Contributions against Everton, Brighton, Tottenham, Newcastle and West Ham, among others, saw him finish the season with 17 goals, the most of any Red, and six assists.
While he was not the headline name to arrive in the summer, he was top of the class when it came to the club’s new signings, even if he did miss the last six games of the campaign.
That is not to say there were not shortcomings in his game, which was namely his work rate, with Ekitike admitting he had Slot on his back early in the season.
“I would say he’s on my back, but not for a bad thing,” the 23-year-old said of the head coach.
“It’s more about work rate without the ball. Mostly about that, to be more involved and to work more for the team, which I’m trying to do.”
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Wednesday, March 18, 2026: Liverpool's Hugo Ekitike celebrates after scoring the second goal during the UEFA Champions League Round of 16 2nd Leg match between Liverpool FC and Galatasaray A.?. at Anfield. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
That work rate was severely tested as Ekitike was left to shoulder the majority of the attacking minutes, amassing 2,874 for the club before his untimely injury.
He was on course to play more minutes than in any other campaign of his fledgling career. Last season, he racked up 3,644 for Frankfurt, but before that, the most he had played was 1,463.
The fatigue was apparent in the way he maneuvered on the pitch, with his early confusion in his role – when to press, when not to – traded in for a run of two goals in his last 13 outings.
Hugo Ekitike taught a needed early lesson with red card
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Tuesday, September 23, 2025: Liverpool's Hugo Ekitike is shown a red via a second yellow for taking his shirt off during his goal celebrations by referee Thomas Bramall during the Football League Cup 3rd Round match between Liverpool FC and Southampton FC at Anfield. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
“It was needless, yes. And it was stupid, yep,” Slot said with brutal honesty after he watched Ekitike all but give himself a red card and a one-match suspension.
“The first one was already needless and, to a certain extent, stupid because you have to control your emotions.”
With life at Anfield starting positively, Ekitike conjured the spirit of Darwin Nunez by picking up two needless and entirely avoidable yellow cards that led to his sending off against Southampton.
First, he threw the ball away and then he took his shirt off as he was celebrating his goal, with his emotions getting the better of him to leave his side without his services at Crystal Palace.
We all know what unfolded then and thereafter for the Reds, as one late collapse turned into a spiral of nine defeats in 12, with more to follow.
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Tuesday, September 23, 2025: Liverpool's Hugo Ekitike holds his shirt up as he celebrates after scoring the second goal during the Football League Cup 3rd Round match between Liverpool FC and Southampton FC at Anfield. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
It was a harsh early lesson for the young forward, but one, in hindsight, he needed as he did not do it again, just as he promised.
“I think that was not smart,” he told reporters before his first game back from his ban. “I felt a bit disappointed to watch the boys from home on Saturday, but I apologised to everyone already, to all my teammates.
“That kind of thing won’t happen again, so I move on and I’m looking forward to playing and focusing on football.”
Where does the serious Achilles injury leave Hugo Ekitike?
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Tuesday, April 14, 2026: Liverpool's Hugo Ekitike lies on the floor Injured holding his ankle during the UEFA Champions League Quarter-Final 2nd Leg match between Liverpool FC and Paris Saint-Germain FC at Anfield. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
Ekitike’s season came crashing to a halt against his former club PSG, with a grab to the back of the heel after no contact with an opponent signalled a serious issue.
It was later confirmed as a ruptured Achilles tendon, which ended his season prematurely, dashed his World Cup hopes and committed him to a rehabilitation period of nine to 12 months.
As the largest and strongest tendon in the human body, surgery, which Ekitike has since undergone, intends to restore its function with the least possible reduction in flexibility and strength.
According to a study, via Journal of the Foot&Ankle, “some performance loss must occur after an injury, whether total or partial.”
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Tuesday, April 14, 2026: Liverpool's Hugo Ekitike is check up on by team-mates Milos Kerkez and captain Virgil van Dijk (R) as he stretchered off with a suspected Achilles injury during the UEFA Champions League Quarter-Final 2nd Leg match between Liverpool FC and Paris Saint-Germain FC at Anfield. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
As the Achilles is responsible for much of the body’s explosiveness, the injury, therefore, casts doubt on what player Ekitike will be when he returns, with history of shortened careers, but youth is at least on his side.
Thankfully, Liverpool will have access to the most up-to-date treatment methods, but there will be no rushing the Frenchman back. It is likely we will not see him until 2027.
For the club, they will now have to assess whether the injury requires a change of plans in the summer; as for Ekitike, his long comeback trail is already underway.
Best moment: Scoring against Newcastle three times after the events of the summer was beautifully ironic.
Worst moment: No question, rupturing his Achilles tendon.
Role next season: The first half of the campaign will be focused on recovery, then it will be to make a mid to late-season return and rediscover the confidence in his body.