For Liverpool, is Ekitike better than Nunez?

No player in the history of the English Premier League has hit the goalpost as many as four times in a single match. Until Darwin Nunez came along. The Liverpool forward has been unluckily thwarted in front of goal too often, leading to questions about his competence.

Incompetence and misfortune are sometimes separated by a very thin line. The best way to distinguish between the two is time. Once may be a coincidence, but not if it happens repeatedly. A similar assessment can be applied to evaluate the quality of Nunez's final resolutions over three seasons at Liverpool.

Nunez has scored several spectacular goals. However, he too often misses easy opportunities in front of the goal. The problem is that the value of a goal does not change because it is more spectacular. Every ball that enters the net is counted as only one goal. He is trapped in inconsistency.

The statistics highlight the striker's finishing deficiencies. Nunez has scored just 25 goals in the last three seasons, despite a chance rating of 33.7 xG (expected goals). Nunez's goal output has never exceeded this xG figure in any season.

The main objective of a striker is to score goals. Considering Nunez's performance, it is understandable that Liverpool wishes to release him in the summer transfer window of 2025. The player, who was purchased from Benfica for 85 million euros (IDR 1.61 trillion), has run out of time.

The next question is, who will replace Nunez? Liverpool had approached Newcastle United star striker Alexander Isak, but their offer was declined. An alternative is the talented striker from Eintracht Frankfurt, Hugo Ekitike, who is being pursued by many clubs.

The problem is that Ekitike has not yet proven to be a consistent goal-scoring machine. The 23-year-old player indeed managed to contribute 15 goals in the German League last season. However, that was his best achievement. In the previous season, his debut season with Frankfurt, he only scored four goals.

Ekitike often misses opportunities. This is reflected in the xG deficit with a goal tally reaching -6.6. He is far from the projected figure on paper to score at least 21 goals. This deficit value is the worst among all players in the top five European leagues.

So, if it is not certain that it is better, why does Nunez need to be replaced by Ekitike? The answer to that question was actually evident back in February. Specifically, during the interview with coach Arne Slot following Liverpool's victory over Manchester City.

Slot expressed disappointment with the work ethic of the national team player from Uruguay. This is what led to Nunez sitting on the bench throughout the match. For the coach, goals are not everything. Nunez could contribute significantly in other aspects, but this was not done to the fullest.

"I helped him by saying he could miss the opportunity. However, if you miss the opportunity, you have to fight for the team. It's not that Darwin didn't do that at all, it's just that it's not usually him. Once it can be accepted, not if it happens repeatedly," said Slot.

Nunez, 26 years old, has reached his lowest point. Both in terms of performance and motivation. He has never reached his best potential as expected when he arrived from Benfica. Nunez further declined last season, when he was given nearly half the playing time compared to the 2023-24 season.

On the other hand, Ekitike offers something fresher and more promising, being three years younger than Nunez. He arrives as one of the best striker prospects in Europe today. Like an orange, Nunez has already been squeezed dry, while Ekitike is still fresh.

Moreover, Ekitike's attributes are far more complete compared to Nunez. While Nunez primarily operates along the back line, Ekitike is more active in assisting the midfield. Ekitike is a well-rounded striker, capable of finding and creating opportunities, often paired with Isak.

This advantage can be seen in the per-90-minute statistics from FBref. Ekitike outperforms Nunez in chances (0.76 - 0.46 xG), and key passes (1.54 - 0.87). Progressive dribbles, successful attempts to dribble the ball at least 9.1 meters (10 yards), also outperform Ekitike, 3.26 - 1.83 times.

Ekitike and Nunez indeed play in different leagues. The statistical records can fluctuate when both players switch leagues. However, these records still provide a glimpse into the completeness of Ekitike's abilities. The potential of the former French U-21 national team player is promising.

Ekitike is confident that the resolution will improve over time. "They say I am too far from the position of a striker. I have corrected that. I understand the pressure to always score goals. That is what makes me more straightforward and always facing the opponent's goal," he said.

For Liverpool, Isak is the most ideal choice as he is experienced and proven in the Premier League. However, Ekitike is by no means a bad option amid the limited availability of "number 9" strikers in this transfer window. This alternative choice is worth considering. (AP/AFP)