Liverpool supporters had reason to be upset with plenty of their players during Wednesday night’s defeat against Paris Saint-Germain, but none more so than Hugo Ekitike.
The Frenchman was supposed to be showing his former club what they had missed by allowing him to make only 33 appearances for them, but instead conspired to prove that he may not be up to scratch after all.
It was not only Ekitike‘s lack of threat which rankled, it was the fact that he simply could not do the job he needed to in Liverpool‘s 3-5-2 system. Unable to hold the ball up, unwilling to put in the hard yards and incapable of linking the play effectively, Ekitike continued his decline into becoming the anti-Roberto Firmino for the Reds.
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Jeremie Frimpong takes throw-in for Liverpool in front of Arne Slot
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Ekitike must do better in all areas
Maybe it is unfair to compare Ekitike to Firmino. The two are different types of players, and while the Brazilian became a legend at Liverpool over time, he also struggled during his first season.
However, as the Reds fail to form any kind of coherent system under Arne Slot, the comparisons between Ekitike and a player who was often described as being the system itself under Jurgen Klopp are as stark as they could be.
Where Firmino was a master at holding the ball up and bringing others into play, Ekitike lost the ball nine times at the Parc des Princes. His attempts to make it stick were dismal, and led to the Liverpool midfield and defence having to contend with wave after wave of PSG attack.
He is also beginning to lose supporters with his perceived unwillingness to work, press and hassle the opponents on the ball.
Paris Saint-Germain FC v Liverpool FC - UEFA Champions League 2025/26 Quarter-Final First Leg
Photo by Harry Langer/DeFodi Images/DeFodi via Getty Images
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The 23-year-old won just four of 11 duels, and made only one tackle during the whole match. With Liverpool needing to lead from the front to have any chance of winning in Paris, Ekitike may as well have had the night off.
He had a hugely promising start to his Liverpool career, and it is surely unfair to write him off so early on. But Reds fans saw with Darwin Nunez exactly what it looks like when a centre-forward is not the right fit. Sadly for Ekitike, he looks to be steadily going down the same steep slope.
Things could unravel for Ekitike at Liverpool
Although it is premature to say that Ekitike will not make it work at Liverpool, it is alarming that he currently looks such a poor fit.
Alexander Isak coming back will help him, and we daresay that if there is a change in coach over the summer it could help him in the same manner Klopp coming in for Brendan Rodgers reignited Firmino’s Liverpool career.
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Arne Slot reacts with frustration during Liverpool's UEFA Champions League last-16 second-leg match against Galatasaray at Anfield (Credit: Getty Images/Carl Recine).
Photo Credit: Getty Images/Carl Recine
But if Ekitike continues to flatter to deceive next season, he could find Liverpool’s patience begins to wear thin.
At only 23 he is a very saleable asset, and, just like Nunez, he will likely have suitors who are willing to pay good money to sign him.
We are nowhere near that point just yet, but Wednesday’s match was another reminder of just what Liverpool have lost from their days of Mohamed Salah, Sadio Mane and Firmino terrorising defences across Europe.
Ekitike does not have to replicate Firmino to be a success at Anfield, but he would do well to study the Brazilian and what he brought to the team and translate some of that into his own game. Right now the pair could not be further apart, and it is beginning to really harm Liverpool.
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