Peter Crouch tells Hugo Ekitike what he must do to be 'remembered forever'

2 days ago 40

Peter Crouch has called on Hugo Ekitike to make a name for himself in Liverpool's showdown with Manchester United on Sunday.

Ekitike has impressed since swapping the Bundesliga for the Premier League, scoring five goals in 10 appearances in all competitions for his new club.

It's fair to say that Ekitike has probably been the most impressive of all of Liverpool's summer signings, and he could not have done more to earn a starting berth against United.

As the Premier League's all-time record signing, though, Alexander Isak will probably line up through the middle, leaving Ekitike likely to start on the bench — unless he is used on the left flank ahead of Cody Gakpo.

However, Ekitike has not lined up on the left since moving to Liverpool, and it would be bold of Arne Slot to give him his first start there in such a big game, particularly as the Reds are looking to end a run of three successive defeats.

Whenever he gets on the pitch, he has been urged to find the net in order to cement his legacy at Liverpool — purely by scoring against the Reds' biggest rivals.

"It's still the biggest fixture," Crouch told Paddy Power. "You've got games like Man City vs Arsenal now that are great games, but traditionally this is the big one, and it'll always be the biggest one for me.

"United will come back eventually - they're too big a club not to - but at the moment they're not quite there.

Crouch still thinks Liverpool versus United is the biggest game on the Reds' calendar

Crouch still thinks Liverpool versus United is the biggest game on the Reds' calendar

"If I'm one of the new players - a Kerkez or an Isak for example - if I'm Ekitike then I'm looking at getting a goal in this fixture, because the fans will remember it forever.

"I remember scoring a winner in this game in the FA Cup at Anfield and fans still talk to me about it every now and then."

Liverpool goes into the game fresh off a double injury boost this week, after Arne Slot confirmed that Ryan Gravenberch is 100 per cent fit after being taken off at half-time of the Netherlands' World Cup qualifier against Finland last week due to a hamstring concern.

Ibrahima Konate, too, is likely to be fine to play after missing both of France's games during the international break.

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