Hugo Ekitike was outstanding against West Ham and is building a case for Liverpool’s best signing in years.
Not everyone was at the top of their game against West Ham, but the Frenchman put on a stunning performance.
Ekitike opened the scoring for Liverpool and added two assists to his tally for the day.
There has been a lot of discourse surrounding the Premier League’s new strikers, but Ekitike is proving to be the best signing of the bunch.
Did anyone actually deserve man of the match against West Ham? 😆
If so, who was it?
Alexis Mac Allister during Liverpool v West Ham United - Premier League
Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images
His goal takes him to 11 in the league for the season, setting him up for Liverpool history in the final months of the season.
Hugo Ekitike has matched Luis Suarez for goals in a debut season in the Premier League
Ekitike has taken his tally to 11 with Saturday’s strike — the best such figure from a Liverpool player in their first Premier League season since Luis Suarez.
It’s a stat that is quite unfair on Mohamed Salah. He scored 32 in his debut season for Liverpool, but his time at Chelsea excludes him.
Mo Salah and Hugo Ekitike celebrate goal
Photo by Liverpool FC/Liverpool FC via Getty Images
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Suarez might be the best Liverpool striker of all time, at least in terms of talent, but the French phenom has already equalled his debut season with ten games still to play.
You can bet Ekitike adds a few more to his tally and throws his name in the hat for best striker signing at Liverpool in decades.
On top of that, he is the first French player since Alexander Lacazette to reach 11 goals in his first season. The former Arsenal star finished on 13, so it’s very likely Ekitike passes him as well.
Ekitike has to start doing it against the big teams
As phenomenal as Ekitike has been since arriving at Anfield, he hasn’t quite had the same impact against the stronger opposition Liverpool have faced.
He often goes missing against tougher defences. That needs to be addressed, especially if Liverpool are to make a deep Champions League run.
Liverpool are going to have to change this to make it to the UCL quarter-finals…
Give us your early predictions for the last-16 clash with Galatasaray
Victor Osimhen warms up for Galatasaray (Credit: Getty Images/Gerrit van Keulen/Soccrates).
Photo Credit: Getty Images/Gerrit van Keulen/Soccrates
Someone who has generally thrived in such ties is Alexander Isak. His return could put pressure on Ekitike to have the same impact in the most important games of the season.
Despite that small criticism, this has been a genius bit of business from FSG.
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