Hugo Ekitike delivered what many are calling his finest display in a Liverpool shirt to date, netting a decisive brace during a commanding 4-1 victory over Newcastle United at Anfield. The performance prompted high praise from Reds legend Steven Gerrard, who drew a direct and flattering comparison to former teammate and Liverpool striking great Fernando Torres.
Gerrard's Glowing Tribute
Speaking in his role as a pundit for TNT Sports on Saturday evening, the former Champions League-winning midfielder did not hold back in his assessment. 'It's Torres-like,' Gerrard stated emphatically. 'He just gets it out of his feet and it's that toe poke. He reminds me of Torres, this player, every time I watch him. He's scoring similar types of goals, where if you give him space in the channel, he'll run it, he's too quick, you can't catch him and he's deadly.'
A Deadly Double
The comparison was particularly apt for Ekitike's second goal of the night. Capitalising on defender Malick Thiaw giving him too much space on the outside, the French forward drove forward before executing a perfectly placed, ruthless toe-poke finish into the far corner, leaving goalkeeper Nick Pope with no chance.
His first goal showcased a different aspect of his game—instinctive movement and a sharp finish after being cleverly picked out in the box by Florian Wirtz. The burgeoning partnership between Ekitike and Wirtz is quickly becoming a potent weapon for Liverpool, with the pair developing a formidable understanding.
Ekitike's Humble Response
When the Torres comparison was put to him post-match, the 23-year-old striker responded with characteristic modesty. 'Back in the day, I couldn’t watch the Premier League to be honest, my mum didn't pay so I couldn't see!' Ekitike revealed. 'I have watched some clips on YouTube. I will never put myself on that bracket. He was an incredible player. If I can reach near that level, it would be amazing.'
Gerrard, listening in, was quick to reinforce his point, adding, 'There are a lot of similarities, pace, power, you can score, you can assist.'
Focus on Team Success
Pressed on whether he had a personal goal target for the season, Ekitike shifted the focus to collective achievement. 'It's a hard question, obviously I want to score a lot of goals, I'd love to be the top scorer of the club but I don't think of a certain number, I just want to be involved in helping the team to win. I also love to give assists, like to Flo (Wirtz).'
He emphasised the team's collective spirit as a key factor in the victory, stating, 'We came here with confidence, but I think tonight was also about team spirit. Everybody tonight was running everywhere.'
Living Up to Expectations
The burden on Ekitike has increased significantly following the long-term injury to fellow striker Alexander Isak, who is sidelined with a broken leg. The Frenchman, who joined from Eintracht Frankfurt in the summer for a fee reported to be around £69 million, is proving himself more than capable of shouldering the responsibility.
His double against Newcastle takes his tally to an impressive 14 goals in all competitions during his debut season for Liverpool. This marks a strong start as he looks to build a legacy at Anfield, a task underscored by the lofty comparison to Fernando Torres.
Torres himself remains one of Liverpool's most celebrated number nines, scoring 65 goals in 102 appearances before his contentious move to Chelsea. For Ekitike, the challenge is now to continue his development and perhaps one day earn such legendary status in his own right.
