Liverpool supporters have waited a long time to see a prolific number nine arrive at the club.
The Reds have had plenty of high profile strikers over the years, going back to the likes of Ian Rush, Robbie Fowler and Fernando Torres.
But perhaps the one thing that has been missing throughout the recent period of success under Jurgen Klopp and Arne Slot has been a figurehead centre-forward who can fire 25 or 30 goals per season.
Liverpool have not been short of goals, of course, but the majority have been coming from the wings over the past decade.
Darwin Nunez was supposed to be a pivot away from that after joining from Benfica in 2022, but the penny never quite dropped with the Uruguayan, who has left to join Saudi side Al Hilal.
In his place has come Hugo Ekitike. And after the Frenchman scored on his Premier League debut to make it two goals in two appearances, former striker Tony Cascarino highlighted a big difference between Ekitike and Nunez.
Hugo Ekitike of Liverpool celebrates scoring his team's first goal during the Premier League match between Liverpool and Bournemouth at Anfield
Photo by Liverpool FC/Liverpool FC via Getty Images
Hugo Ekitike praised for clinical finishing
In a very ironic twist of fate, Ekitike has actually followed in Nunez’s footsteps in his start to life at Liverpool.
The 23-year-old became only the second player in Liverpool history to score and assist on his Premier League debut for the club. The first? Darwin Nunez.
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Funnily, Ekitike also scored on his debut in the Community Shield, just like Nunez. But despite these similarities, Cascarino has claimed that clinical finishing and technical ability are what is going to set Ekitike apart.
“I think he’s got way more technical ability than Darwin,” the pundit told TalkSPORT. “You look at them as two players and immediately he’s had some one on ones, he’s got in some good positions, he slotted it in the corner in the Charity Shield, a great finish.”
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“Nunez had periods where he could do that, but I think what you’re seeing is a much more clinical version of what a striker should be if you’re playing for a club like Liverpool. You have to be clinical.
“He’s got that quite clearly in his game, whereas I was never convinced that Darwin Nunez did.”
Ekitike must keep Liverpool run going
It is true that Nunez also had a very good start to his Liverpool career in 2022, but it all unravelled after a moment of madness on his third game for the club.
After scoring against Man City and bagging two goal contributions at Fulham, there was plenty of anticipation for Nunez’s Anfield debut.
Unfortunately, the No. 9 only lasted 57 minutes, as he headbutted Crystal Palace defender Joachim Andersen to get himself a deserved red card.
It was the last thing Nunez’s Liverpool career needed and he arguably never fully recovered from that moment.
For Ekitike, he must learn from Nunez’s downfall and ensure he does not befall the same fate. It has been an excellent start for the Frenchman, but there is still such a long way to go.