Hugo Ekitike left the Anfield turf to chants of his name and a fist pump to The Kop, sealing his status as Liverpool’s newest cult hero.
The 23-year-old, signed from Eintracht Frankfurt for £70m, has shown no sign of being fazed by the competition posed by British-record signing Alexander Isak.
Instead, he has adapted seamlessly to the Premier League, blending technical quality, composure, and relentless work rate in Arne Slot’s high-energy side.
That connection with fans was evident in Liverpool’s nervy 2-1 Merseyside derby win over Everton.
Ekitike calmly finished a sweeping move to open the scoring and earned a standing ovation when replaced by Isak after 67 minutes.
Slot has already hinted at experimenting with a strike partnership between the pair, as well as using Ekitike wide on the left — a role usually filled by Cody Gakpo.
For now, the Frenchman is thriving wherever he is asked to play.
In just 370 minutes of action, Ekitike has produced three goals and an assist in five consecutive league wins, boasting a 66.7% big-chance conversion rate.
Beyond the numbers, his tireless pressing and willingness to scrap for possession make him a constant menace for defenders.
Ekitike may still be in the early stages of his Liverpool career, but he already looks like the player The Kop has been waiting for.
