Arne Slot has outlined Hugo Ekitike‘s blistering speed as a big reason for wanting to bring him to Liverpool earlier this year.
Ekitike has flourished in a Reds shirt this season, scoring 11 goals in 24 appearances and standing out as the signing of the summer at Anfield.
With Alexander Isak injured and Mohamed Salah at the African Cup of Nations, the Frenchman’s importance feels greater than ever during the festive period.
In an interview with Sky Sports, Slot hailed the brilliance of Ekitike, not least the pace he brings to Liverpool’s team.
“He has many qualities,” Slot said.
“As we can all see, he’s a good finisher, he’s very comfortable on the ball. But what stands out for me is he belongs to the fastest players we have.
“That was one of the things I wanted to add to this team – incredible pace.
“Because I see many of the top teams have one, two, three individuals that have pace that is exceptional.
“We faced Paris Saint-Germain last season, where we had to face (Ousmane) Dembele, (Bradley) Barcola, (Desire) Doue – all these incredibly fast players.
“So that is what we’ve tried to add with him.”
It is another instance of Slot referencing the lasting effect the meeting with PSG had on him, with the need for a new injection of pace made clear, and you could argue Liverpool need more of it.
Liverpool’s under-the-radar masterstroke signing
So much focus was on the record-breaking amount spent on Isak and Florian Wirtz in the summer that Ekitike’s arrival almost went under the radar.
But it is the 23-year-old who has stood out as Liverpool’s most successful new addition to date, and one of their players of the season.
Ekitike has taken to the Premier League with such ease, scoring eight goals in 16 appearances, of which only 11 have been starts.
As Slot mentions, his pace is such a potent weapon, but there is far more to his game than that, with his personality also making him an instant hit with the fans.
His hold-up play in tight areas and intelligence stand out, and his style of play and quality of finishing have rightly drawn comparisons with Fernando Torres.
This feels like the start of a special Liverpool career, and he will need to remain fit and in form if the Reds are to have a good second half to the season.
Fan Comments