Ekitike is now ‘one of the best in the world’: Hargreaves

Liverpool’s 5-2 win over West Ham United gave us a lot to get pleasure from, however the post-match dialog rapidly centred on Hugo Ekitike and simply how necessary the striker has turn into for Arne Slot.

Owen Hargreaves, talking on Premier League Productions and quoted by Metro.co.uk, made it clear he thinks Liverpool have one thing particular on our arms.

“I let you know why [Slot] is smiling, he’s bought Hugo Ekitike in his group,” Hargreaves mentioned.

“What a participant he’s by the best way, oh my phrase, he may very well be top-of-the-line strikers on the planet.”

That’s punchy reward in any context, nevertheless it lands even tougher when you think about our present attacking image, as a result of with Alexander Isak and Florian Wirtz injured, Ekitike has began to really feel like essentially the most dependable outlet within the entrance line.

Cody Gakpo bought on the scoresheet towards West Ham and Mo Salah remains to be contributing in different methods, however neither attacker seems totally on hearth in entrance of purpose proper now, which is why Ekitike’s confidence and output issues a lot.

Hargreaves leaned into that concept too, suggesting Ekitike has the combination of instruments that separates the perfect forwards from the remainder.

“He makes it look really easy with the whole lot,” Hargreaves added.

“He’s bought measurement, he’s bought talent, he’s bought method, he’s bought consciousness, all the time in the proper place on the proper time, technically he’s prime and he’s bought this confidence which I believe is infectious.”

Ekitike exhibits why Liverpool are leaning on him

The numbers from SofaScore again up why the efficiency stood out, as a result of Ekitike produced the form of all-action show that modifications a sport even when Liverpool aren’t completely dominant for 90 minutes.

Hugo Ekitike vs West Ham
SofaScore

Ranking
8.5 (Participant of the Match)

Minutes
76

Targets
1

Assists
2

Pictures
2 (1 on track)

xG
0.21

Key passes
2

Dribbles
4 (2 profitable)

Touches
32

Aerial duels
5 (3 gained)

It was additionally telling that Arne Slot substituted Ekitike on 76 minutes, with Rio Ngumoha changing him, as a result of it seemed like a supervisor defending a participant we merely can not afford to lose.

With Slot additionally admitting that Wirtz is unlikely to be again for Tuesday, he’ll know the significance of maintaining essentially the most in-form gamers obtainable.

Why this issues for Liverpool’s run-in

Liverpool are actually fifth with 48 factors from 28 video games, stage with fourth-placed Manchester United, and we’re enjoying the form of fixtures the place momentum can swing rapidly.

That’s the place Ekitike’s worth turns into even clearer, as a result of when Liverpool are lacking artistic touchpoints, a ahead who can rating, create, and carry the ball via stress turns into the discharge valve.

Wayne Rooney has already instructed Ekitike’s kind is shifting the dialog round our ahead line, and that broader theme suits what we noticed towards West Ham, as a result of the striker seemed just like the participant most keen to make one thing occur when the match threatened to get awkward.

If we’re going to hold climbing domestically whereas juggling accidents and Europe, then performances like this are precisely why a lot of the highlight is touchdown on Hugo Ekitike.