The French forward arrived at Anfield from Eintracht Frankfurt in a £79 million deal after a standout spell in the Bundesliga. ..Continue Reading
He’s made an immediate impact, scoring in both the Community Shield and Liverpool’s opening two Premier League fixtures.
Initially brought in to lead the line, Ekitike was seen as the focal point of Liverpool’s revamped attack. At the time of his signing, Isak’s availability wasn’t on the radar — but the Swedish striker later signaled his desire to leave Newcastle, prompting Liverpool to pursue him in a record-breaking transfer.
With both players commanding hefty fees and occupying similar roles, competition for the No. 9 spot is inevitable. However, Ekitike has made it clear that he’s open to shifting positions if it benefits the team.
He’s keen to showcase his versatility and contribute in whatever way manager Arne Slot sees fit, even if that means stepping aside from his central striker duties.
He said recently: “I mean, I do what the coach asks me to do, but yeah, I like to do everything. I can’t define myself only as a striker (who likes) to finish: I like to play, I like to be in the game, in the collective part of play (and) create also.
“So, I can do both – I can play alone and I like to play also with another striker and I think that’s what makes me versatile, but you know now in football you need to adapt.”
It’s still unclear how Arne Slot plans to integrate both Alexander Isak and Hugo Ekitike into Liverpool’s attacking setup—or whether one of them will have to settle for reduced minutes on the pitch.
Mohamed Salah remains a guaranteed starter on the right flank, and with Florian Wirtz brought in specifically to operate as the central playmaker, a two-striker formation seems improbable.
Jamie Carragher has voiced concerns about the club potentially having a bench option valued close to £80 million, questioning the logic behind such an expensive backup.
With Isak’s arrival imminent, Ekitike may find himself sidelined more often than he’d prefer—a scenario the Sky Sports analyst noted could be unsettling for the young French forward.
He said on the Overlap: “From a fan’s point of view for myself, I don’t want Liverpool to spend £150 million on Isak. There’s something about Liverpool buying another striker [Hugo Ekitike], and he’s backup. Something about it doesn’t feel right to me.”
