Five times Hugo Ekitike brilliance left Liverpool’s rivals stunned – ‘Bergkamp-esque’
Hugo Ekitike has completed his move to become Liverpool’s new striker.
Following an excellent season with Frankfurt, Ekitike has sealed a £69million move to Merseyside, much to the delight of Liverpool legend Ian Rush.
Ekitike is set to address the hole that Arne Slot’s squad had up top, with the prospect of him playing alongside Mohamed Salah and Florian Wirtz a terrifying prospect for the rest of the Premier League next season.
With 15 goals and eight assists in 33 Bundesliga appearances last term, only time will tell if Ekitike will live up to his huge price tag.
After sealing his blockbuster move to Anfield, we at Liverpool News run through Ekitike’s top five goals from last season.
Curling effort vs Tottenham Hotspur
Along with Ekitike’s 15 domestic goals last term, the youngster notched four goals in 12 games in the Europa League.
His curling effort against the eventual winners, Spurs, was a particularly beautiful strike.
Despite his 6’2″ frame, the forward showed immense agility to cut inside from the left flank before unleashing a powerful curling effort that nestled in the bottom corner.
Towering header vs Leipzig
Despite his elegance on the pitch, Ekitike is not afraid to use his physicality to score when needed.
His goal against Leipzig is perfect evidence of this, with the striker peeling off at the back post before being stronger than the defender in the air to nod home from close range.
This physical presence gives Liverpool the option to also float crosses into the box, knowing their new striker will attack them.
Bullet header vs Stuttgart
While Ekitike used intelligent movement to peel off his man against Leipzig, there was nothing subtle about this goal.
The forward proved he is an immense threat from set-pieces, sprinting onto a good ball delivered into the box from a corner and heading home from close range.
We have seen some of Europe’s best teams like Arsenal emphasise set pieces in recent years, but the Reds could now be the new team to watch out for from dead balls, with Ekitike and Virgil van Dijk queueing up inside the box to attack the ball.
Dennis Bergkamp-esque finish vs Ferencvaros
This goal perfectly showcases Ekitike’s quick feet and poaching ability.
As a ball is deflected into his path, his instinct takes over as he unorthodoxly puts the ball through the defender’s legs before toe poking the ball in from close range.
To react on the fly like Ekitike did there shows he will bring a calmness and composure that Liverpool do not currently have up front, with the goal somewhat replicating Bergkamp’s famous goal against Newcastle United.
Fabulous solo goal vs Ajax
Ekitike’s best goal of the season came against Ajax and sums up his game perfectly.
The Frenchman picked the ball up in a similar area to his goal against Spurs, before nutmegging the defender and guiding the ball into the top corner.
Scousers will be hoping this trademark move from the left side of the box will give them many memorable goals to celebrate in the Kop next season.
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