1 week ago
6
Liverpool ended up cruising to victory over Eintracht Frankfurt. But it didn't always look as though it would be quite so simple, with Hugo Ekitike having to restore parity after his old side took a first-half lead.
His nicely-taken goal seemed to shatter Frankfurt's resistance, however. It was 3-1 by half time, and Liverpool added another couple in the second half.
It could easily have been more, but Liverpool ended up with five goal-scorers: Ekitike, Virgil van Dijk, Ibrahima Konate, Cody Gakpo, and Dominik Szoboszlai. Yet despite the goals being shared around, pundits felt there was one real standout star.
Up against his old club, Ekitike stole the show. As well as getting Liverpool back on track, he made a point to Arne Slot at a critical time.
For the first time, Slot elected to play Ekitike and Alexander Isak together from the start. Not only did the Frenchman prove that this partnership works, he also showed that if it's a choice between the two of them, he deserves the nod right now.
Isak had some bright moments before he was withdrawn at the break. One snapshot in particular forced a good save, transforming a half-chance into a good opportunity.
Slot confirmed after the match that the Isak substitution was due to some discomfort in the groin. So frustratingly, we may not see the partnership again right away.
But Ekitike left Liverpool in no doubt that he is ready to step up and lead the line in the meantime. He left Steve McManaman and Owen Hargreaves purring in the TNT Sports studio after the game.
"Ekitike's goal was really nice," said McManaman. "The first touch was excellent, across Robin Koch.
"His awareness to slow himself down, have a look at the goalkeeper, doesn't rush at all, everything is cool and calm in his mind. He knows exactly what he's going to do: look at the goalkeeper, slows down, gets Liverpool back in the game.
"He has to play now, doesn't he. I don't know if Alexander Isak has got an injury, but he's a starter all the time."
Hargreaves concurred. He even went one better:
"Right now he's their best player", claimed the pundit.
It's a big call, but you'd be hard-pressed to disagree. Ekitike has been hugely unlucky to find himself relegated to the bench of late, having started his Liverpool career in such fine form.
He has been Slot's most reliable source of goals, and he's looked the likeliest to make things happen when he's played. He has looked frankly world class.
Where that leaves Isak when he's back to full fitness is a problem that Slot will need to solve. The answer may not necessarily please Mohamed Salah, who it must be said was not especially missed in this new-look setup (albeit against a really weak defense).
But whatever he does, Slot needs to play Ekitike. Even with just one goal, the striker underlined that emphatically in Frankfurt.
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