Hugo Ekitike has ‘everything’ and moves like former fan favourite – Liverpool will be scary when Alexander Isak gets fit

Hugo Ekitike is the ‘absolute real deal’ and his performances have been reminiscent of a prime Fernando Torres.

That’s the view of The Athletic’s Liverpool reporter James Pearce, who has hailed the summer signing‘s impact after his two goals inspired the Reds to a 4-1 victory over Newcastle.

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After Anthony Gordon gave the Magpies the lead at Anfield, Ekitike turned the game on its head with a quick-fire double minutes later.

Second-half goals from Florian Wirtz and Ibrahima Konate wrapped up the three points for Arne Slot‘s side, but it was the Frenchman’s display which caught the eye.

Ekitike took his Premier League tally to ten goals for the season, as he kept up his fantastic start to life in a Liverpool shirt.

The 23-year-old has been the Reds’ standout performer this term following his £79million arrival from Eintracht Frankfurt.

He leads the club’s goalscoring charts in the Premier League, and across all competitions, while his numbers are made more impressive by the fact he has outshone British record signing Alexander Isak.

Ekitike has established himself as Liverpool’s first-choice striker, as well as shouldering goalscoring responsibilities after Isak suffered a broken leg in December.

Ekitike receives plaudits

One man who was full of praise for Ekitike was Liverpool correspondent Pearce, who hailed the France international for taking everything in his stride since joining the club.

Pearce likened his fast start to life to that of former Liverpool hero Torres, who scored 24 Premier League goals in his debut season.

Speaking on talkSPORT’s Inside Liverpool, the reporter said: “I just think he’s been an absolute revelation. 

“And when you think back to last summer, there was this expectation when Liverpool signed Isak that was like: ‘Well, Ekitike is going to be the sidekick really’. And he’s well and truly blown that one out of the water. 

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“He’s embraced the responsibility as well, because since Isak broke his leg in early December, there’s been so much pressure on him to deliver yet he relishes it. 

“I just think he’s got everything you want in a centre forward. Pace, power, he’s combative, his work ethic is absolutely spot on.”

‘It was pure Torres’

Pearce didn’t stop there with the Torres comparisons, as he claimed Ekitike’s second goal against Newcastle was a carbon copy of the Spaniard’s first ever Liverpool goal in 2007.

Against the Magpies, Ekitike latched on to Milos Kerkez‘s ball on the left, before driving past Malick Thiaw and finishing clinically.

He continued: “That second goal – it was pure Torres wasn’t it? Torres against Chelsea on his home debut back in 2007. 

“It was almost the same patch of grass in terms of bursting past the defender on the outside, and the unbelievable finish into the far corner.”

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And Pearce admitted Ekitike could easily go on to exceed the 20-goal mark this term, as he claimed the striker has solved Liverpool’s long-term search for a proven goalscorer.

He continued: “I think that was 15 goals he’s got to his name now, there’s no reason why he couldn’t go on and get 25 this season.

“It feels like it’s been a long time since Liverpool had a centre forward quite like him, obviously Suarez blossomed after a relatively slow start and had that unbelievable year in 2013/14.

“But then of course for so much of the Klopp era – Firmino was such a key cog in the machine but he wasn’t a massively prolific goalscorer, he was a false nine rather than a proper number nine.

“Then they tried to go in a different direction with Darwin Nunez. He was too erratic and didn’t deliver on a consistent basis

“But Ekitike is the absolute real deal.”

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Ekitike and Isak link-up a ‘frightening thought’

Joining Pearce in the studio was former professional boxer and huge Reds fan Paul Smith, who admitted the best could still be yet to come, if he can strike up a partnership with Wirtz and Isak.

Smith chimed in: “It sounds silly because [Mohamed] Salah has put those numbers up every year, but he’s a winger.

“For Liverpool to have a striker, a number nine of that calibre – we haven’t had someone who’s putting 20, 25 goals per season in that position for a while. It’s great news for me.

“But obviously Isak’s sitting there as well. It’s a frightening thought and I hope that they can slot in or fit into the same team.

“But if they do, with Wirtz behind them or Wirtz somewhere else in that team as well, it’s a frightening thought.

“I know we tried at the start of the season, but they were all just bedding in and gelling really.”

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