Hugo Ekitike's Ultimatum on Liverpool's Revival

FRANKFURT, WEDNESDAY — Liverpool striker Hugo Ekitike reaffirmed his quality when facing his former team, Eintracht Frankfurt. Liverpool bounced back from a poor trend thanks to him. The match demonstrated that Ekitike is currently the most dangerous striker in the "Reds" squad and should no longer be on the bench.

The trend of four consecutive defeats for Liverpool has come to an end at Deutsche Bank Park Stadium, Frankfurt, Germany, on Thursday (23/10/2025) early morning WIB. The team coached by Arne Slot won against the home team 5-1 in the group stage match of the Champions League, employing a unique formation and without relying on their star winger Mohamed Salah from the start of the match.

Ekitike returned for the first time to his former home after leaving Frankfurt last summer. However, he arrived without any hesitation. The French national team player wanted to prove himself after being trusted again as a starter. Unlike usual, Ekitike partnered with Alexander Isak in the forward line in a 4-4-2 formation.

Liverpool appeared to win easily from the final result. However, they initially struggled and fell behind in the 26th minute due to a counterattack executed by winger Rasmus Kristensen. Amidst the doubts, Ekitike restored the confidence of the visiting team with the equalizing goal.

Ekitike took advantage of the opponent's high defensive line. After receiving a pass from defender Andy Robertson, he ran alone from the midfield. No one could keep up with the strides of the 190-centimeter tall player. Ekitike easily overcame goalkeeper Michael Zetterer, then displayed a gesture indicating he did not want to celebrate.

"It feels amazing (to return to Frankfurt). Coming home is special. Winning and scoring my first Champions League goal here is very important. I just tried to stay calm and composed," Ekitike, who played for 74 minutes before being replaced by Salah, told TNT Sports.

The momentum shifted after that goal. Liverpool's confidence suddenly surged. Within nine minutes, they turned the tables by scoring two goals from corner kicks, netted by two center-backs, namely Virgil van Dijk and Ibrahima Konate. Leading 3-1 at halftime, victory was already in Liverpool's grasp.

Ekitike scored with his first shot in the match. This was his 6th goal across all competitions this season, the most among all players of "The Reds." Meanwhile, Isak failed to capitalize on a significant opportunity in the first half. Without a notable contribution, he was substituted after halftime due to injury.

Ekitike has recently begun to lose his starting position due to the presence of Isak, who is Liverpool's most expensive signing. Ekitike has been benched, including in the last two matches in the Premier League against Chelsea and Manchester United. However, the contributions of the former Frankfurt player have been more apparent since the beginning of the season.

"Hugo had a golden opportunity and scored a goal. Alex had several chances; unfortunately, he has not scored yet, but he had to leave the field at halftime due to slight pain in his thigh," said Slot, who was quite satisfied with the decision to field two center forwards together for the first time.

Interestingly, after Isak's exit, Slot did not immediately revert to the favored 4-2-3-1 formation. Instead of bringing in Salah, the coach opted to play Federico Chiesa. Chiesa's role was to replace Isak as a central forward who could move freely and interchange positions with other players. Liverpool continued to employ a 4-4-2 formation.

The "Red" attack is becoming increasingly dangerous, especially in transitional situations. They are very fluid in the final third. Ekitike and Chiesa, as well as left winger Cody Gakpo, can switch positions at any moment. On the right side, attacking midfielder Florian Wirtz and wing-back Conor Bradley take turns filling the gap left by Salah.

The flexibility in the attacking line resulted in two additional goals in the second half, scored by Gakpo and midfielder Dominik Szoboszlai. These two goals were inspired by a pass from Wirtz. It is not a coincidence that Wirtz, who had not contributed any goals or assists, was able to shine in the match. This was due to Liverpool's attack being faster and more fluid with a new approach.

Reflecting on that match, Ekitike stated that Isak is not his competitor. The two have proven they can play together in a 4-4-2 formation. "I think that is quite good. We can still develop, and he is a very good player. We just need to work together again and find our cohesion," he said.

Certainly, if the formation of two strikers is implemented by Slot, Salah could become a casualty. Salah's presence would disrupt the team's balance due to the excessive number of forwards on the field. In the match earlier, Salah's role was replaced by Wirtz, who is more inclined to operate in the midfield.

With Isak's injury, Slot is very likely to revert to the 4-2-3-1 formation. Ekitike will return to being the sole striker, as he was at the beginning of the season. Regardless of the formation Liverpool adopts later, Ekitike needs a guarantee of a starting position. He is currently the team's best striker, surpassing both Isak and Salah.

"I would not say he is the fastest to find his rhythm in the game, but he always plays well for us every time he plays. His main focus is on goals and assists, where he has performed excellently for us," said Slot about Ekitike's outstanding debut season so far. (AP/REUTERS)