Hugo Ekitike has scored three goals in three Liverpool games, leaving Thierry Henry and Jamie Carragher impressed
Hugo Ekitike of Liverpool celebrates after scoring
Hugo Ekitike celebrates after scoring in Liverpool's dramatic win against Newcastle United
(Image: Daniel Chesterton/Offside/Offside via Getty Images)
Hugo Ekitike was on target yet again as Liverpool defeated Newcastle United in dramatic circumstances. Subsequently, he earned the strongest praise from fellow Frenchman and Premier League hero Thierry Henry.
Ekitike is one of several new players to have joined Arne Slot's squad as part of a £300m haul this summer transfer window. After three competitive matches of the 2025/26 he has made an instant impact for new club Liverpool.
Just four minutes into his debut in the Community Shield against Crystal Palace, the 23-year-old picked out the far bottom corner from outside the 18-yard box with a controlled finish.
He followed up finding the net in his maiden Premier League outing at Anfield against Bournemouth. The ball may have bounced kindly into his path, but Ekitike applied the finishing touch one-on-one against the goalkeeper.
The forward struck again as the Reds went on to defeat Newcastle 3-2 at St. James' Park. He followed Cody Gakpo's blocked attempt by keeping his cool and tucking past Nick Pope using the frame of the goal, making the score 2-0 to the visitors only 22 seconds into the second half.
According to Opta, he became only the 10th player to score in each of his first three appearances for Liverpool, and only the second to do so in the last 50 years. The last was Daniel Sturridge in January 2013.
Liverpool required rescuing by Rio Ngumoha - just days out from his 17th birthday - in stoppage time.
Focusing on his countryman Ekitike after the final whistle, Henry analysed for Sky Sports: "The way he finished was outstanding.
"In France he was outstanding. I’ve said when he went to Paris Saint-Germain when you have to play in front of Neymar, Messi and Mbappe, you’re obviously going to be on the bench, unfortunately for him.
"That’s a hell of a finish and that’s three games, three goals."
Co-pundit and Liverpool legend Jamie Carragher was equally impressed and hailed the composure of the new signing in each of his finishes for the Reds since joining.
"Yes, and what I like about it is you know sometimes when there is a ricochet before you shoot, also the one he scored at Anfield [vs Bournemouth] where he kept the ball? He kept his composure," Henry said.
"Although there was luck in the build-up, he kept his composure, aim and finish. This is how he does finish and hopefully for you he can do more than that."
Ekitike is set to discover this week whether his fine form early on in his Liverpool career has earned him a first-ever call-up to Didier Deschamps' senior France squad.