Hugo Ekitike’s first outing in a Liverpool shirt may have been in a pre-season setting, but it offered a glimpse of what the Frenchman could bring to Arne Slot’s frontline.
Starting up top against Yokohama F. Marinos, Ekitike slotted into his role with confidence.
Despite a pitch that made crisp passing and first touches difficult, he found ways to show his quality.
The 23-year-old linked play smartly, showed an understanding of his teammates’ movements, and came closest to scoring in the first half with a clever back-heel flick that narrowly missed the target.
Physically, he looked up to the task. Technically, he appeared sharp and aware.
His 45-minute shift won’t set headlines alight, but it suggested he’s adapting quickly to Slot’s ideas and the team’s tempo.
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Hugo Ekitike makes a confident first impression
Liverpool’s overall display was mixed, shaped heavily by a dreadful playing surface at Nissan Stadium.
The pitch made it hard for the Reds to build rhythm, with players miscontrolling passes and struggling to accelerate play.
Still, the job got done. Goals from Florian Wirtz, Trey Nyoni and Rio Ngumoha sealed a 3-1 victory, the fourth pre-season outing for Slot’s squad.
With just one more friendly, against Athletic Club at Anfield, before the season starts, Ekitike has put down a marker.
He may not be the finished article yet, but his performance showed he’s here to compete.
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