Only Haaland has averaged more goals per 90 minutes in the Premier League this season than Ekitike, but it’s not just about strike rate. His influence on Liverpool’s game is increasing every week.
In contrast to the largely ineffective Isak, he got more touches, and had more shots – which now makes Meulensteen’s claim that the Swede is a more “versatile” player look very wrong.
Even Slots have admitted that Ekitike has the ‘X factor’ that gets fans – and even the manager – on their feet. Perhaps more importantly than anything, he is willing to go all out for the cause, as evidenced by pulling off with cramp against Brighton.
“The goals he scored were good goals but there were other moments that I thought ‘wow!'” Slot told Match of the Day. “And that, of course, is the reason why we want him, apart from the goals. So, it’s nice to see him and the others who came in the summer getting better. They have to adapt to the Premier League, with that intensity, because they are all young except Alex (Isak), but I see everyone making progress.
“So even though Hugo has cramps, I can assure you that he probably did twice as much today compared to the game earlier in the season where I also had to take him off because of cramps.”
