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Hugo Ekitike has been brilliant for Liverpool and Wayne Rooney praised the France international, who has now scored 11 goals in all competitions for his new club
Wayne Rooney said that Hugo Ekitike might be the best signing made by a Premier League club during the summer transfer window - but couldn't keep his Liverpool praise up for too long.
France international Ekitike has registered eight top-flight goals and 11 in all competitions for Liverpool since joining the club from Frankfurt in the off-season. He has undoubtedly been Liverpool's most impressive signing – despite the club twice breaking its own transfer record in the summer to sign Germany star Florian Wirtz and Sweden striker Alexander Isak.
While Wirtz and Isak have taken their time bedding in at Liverpool, Ekitike hit the ground running with three goals in his first three games – and with five goals in his last three Premier League appearances, he is the division's in-form striker.
READ MORE: Antoine Semenyo told 'perfect' transfer option as Liverpool handed alternative Jurgen Klopp lovedREAD MORE: Trent Alexander-Arnold dig spotted by Liverpool fans after Real Madrid decisionFormer Manchester United striker Rooney, who is third on the list of the Premier League's all-time top scorers from his spells with United and Everton, has been impressed by what he's seen so far from Ekitike.
“He's been one of, if not the best, signing in the Premier League," Rooney said of Ekitike. "And fair play to him because the pressure on him must have been huge because obviously he cost quite a bit of money as well, but with Liverpool bringing Wirtz in and Isak, there was a huge amount of pressure on him to try and get in the team.
"And he's been the one who's the most consistent one for them in terms of scoring goals and his overall play has been really good. And he's playing with a bit of an attitude which I like as well from him.”
Ekitike's purple patch has contributed to a good run of form for Liverpool of late. After a run of nine defeats in 12 games earlier in the campaign, the Reds are now on a six-game unbeaten run in all competitions, winning four of those games.
“Liverpool have come back into form, which I'm sure obviously for Arne Slot is good," Rooney said, before joking: "So yeah, unfortunately, hopefully that doesn't continue!
"But yes, have to give them credit. To go to Tottenham, even though Tottenham aren't in the best run of form, it's always a difficult place to go. So to go there and win the way they did, fair play to them.”
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