Liverpool fans were excited to see a strong line-up from Arne Slot during Monday’s second fixture against Athletic Bilbao.
The Reds beat the Spanish side 4-1 earlier in the day, with a young team comfortably getting the better of their opponents.
Slot wheeled out the big guns in the Liverpool squad for the 8pm kick-off, with the likes of Mohamed Salah and Florian Wirtz linking up at Anfield for the very first time.
Hugo Ekitike was also on the teamsheet as Liverpool‘s newest signing got used to his new surroundings.
Ekitike made a good first impression last week in Yokohama, and supporters were keen to get a closer look at him.
And it took only 14 minutes for the Frenchman to make an impact at Anfield, setting up Mohamed Salah for a goal with a lovely piece of play. Following the goal, former Liverpool player Ray Houghton spotted Reds fans letting Ekitike know what they thought of him.
Hugo Ekitike rects after Athletic Bilbao score during the pre-season friendly at Anfield.
Photo by Robbie Jay Barratt – AMA/Getty Images
Liverpool fans like what they see from Hugo Ekitike
Liverpool fans were spoiled for choice over who they were most excited to watch during Monday’s game.
From Wirtz, to Liverpool’s new full-backs, to Ekitike in the centre-forward position, there was so much to enjoy about Slot’s line-up.
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But while Wirtz was excellent, Ekitike’s delightful piece of play to set up Salah really stole the show.
“Absolutely brilliant from Ekitike,” Houghton raved on commentary for LFCTV.
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“Lovely play on this left hand side. Lovely stepover. You sort of guess where he’s going to go but you haven’t got the pace to go with him. One v one, how can you affect the game, little step over, he’s away from him.”
“He’s certainly impressing the home support,” added Houghton after another good piece of play from Ekitike minutes later. “They like what they’re seeing from him.”
Where did Ekitike play?
One of the most notable things about Ekitike’s performance on Monday was how often he drifted out to the left hand side.
His piece of play leading to Salah’s goal game from playing virtually as a left winger, and he spent other portions of the game out there as well.
At one point the 23-year-old appeared to completely switch positions with Cody Gakpo, who drifted centrally.
As Liverpool continue to try and sign Alexander Isak, this is worth noting. Some supporters have been asking how Ekitike and Isak could fit into the same team together.
On Monday, we got the first sighting of how that could potentially work. Exciting times ahead.