Hugo Ekitike cements place in starting line-up as Liverpool beat Eintracht Frankfurt 5-1

Hugo Ekitike bagged his first Champions League goal of the season on Wednesday, October 22, in what was a demolition job over Eintracht Frankfurt as the Reds won 5-1 in Germany.

The former Frankfurt forward opened Liverpool’s scoring to level the game with a delightful finish, stroking the ball through the goalkeeper’s legs after latching on to a through ball by Andy Robertson.

In this article, Sports News Blitz writer Will Thomas reflects on Ekitike’s performance in the Reds’ return to winning ways.

No Salah, no problem with Ekitike

The 5-1 win at Frankfurt put an end to a four-game losing streak for Liverpool. A run of defeats they haven’t had since 2014, when Brendan Rodgers was in charge.

Both Alexander Isak and Ekitike started up front for Liverpool in what looked like an old-school 4-4-2 formation with a certain Egyptian missing from the starting line-up.

Speaking to TNT Sports, the Frenchman said: “I think that was good. Obviously, it wasn’t our best half together, but I think we can improve together.

“He’s [Isak] a very good player, I know in time we need to work together and find a nice association. The links will come, and it will work.”

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Isak groin injury and its impact

The Swedish striker was substituted at halftime for Federico Chiesa as Arne Slot reported Isak felt a slight knock after the first half.

“Alexander [Isak] had to go off at half-time because he felt his groin a little bit. That's a pity,” Slot said. "I've said many times it is such a difficult balance to find with a player that missed three months.

"You go slowly with him and people argue about playing him longer. We've now played him for the second time in three days and unfortunately, he had to go off.

"Let's hope for the best but it is not an easy balance to find when a player has been out for so long."

Ekitike has two league goals in the league so far, last scoring against Newcastle in the second game of the season at St James’ Park.

The former Frankfurt forward is now set to play against Brentford on the night of Saturday, October 24, in a game which feels like a must-win if Liverpool are going to stay in the title race.

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