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The French striker has rapidly underlined his popularity, and in addition received over the followers together with his Jota tribute
Liverpool’s new striker Hugo Ekitike holds up his arms to gesture the late Diogo Jota’s jersey quantity 20 after scoring on his Premier League debut for the defending champions againt Bournemouth on Friday. (REUTERS)
A give-and-take transfer with Alexis Mac Allister noticed the tall Frenchman storm into the Bournemouth field earlier than calmly slotting house the primary objective of the season for the defending champions in his Premier League debut. The festivities started close to the nook flag, however simply earlier than he trotted again to the midway line for the restart, Ekitike gestured the quantity 20 together with his arms – the jersey variety of the late Liverpool ahead Diogo Jota.
All the opening weekend’s Premier League matches began with a minute’s silence to pay tribute to Jota, who died in a automotive crash in July whereas returning for pre-season coaching, weeks after serving to the group win a joint-record twentieth league title.
On an emotional day at Anfield the place tributes poured in for the Portuguese – there was standing ovation from the group within the twentieth minute of play – Ekitike’s gesture was the primary proof that the £70 million signing from Eintracht Frankfurt had really embraced his new membership.
The extremely rated 23-year-old ahead additionally put in a stand-out efficiency within the 4-2 win that may give supervisor Arne Slot an enormous confidence increase having spent closely to assemble a group with many new faces.
Churn in Liverpool
Over the summer time switch window, the Reds noticed the departures of long-time wing-back Trent Alexander-Arnold, temperamental striker Darwin Nunez, and hard-working ahead Luis Diaz. If Slot is to steer his group to their first profitable title defence in 41 years, he’d need to do it with loads of recent faces.
On the night time, Liverpool grew to become the primary reigning English champions (excluding the inaugural 1992-93 season) to area 4 Premier League debutants within the beginning line-up of their season opener. Along with Ekitike had been midfielder Florian Wirtz and full-backs Jeremie Frimpong and Milos Kerkez.
But it was Ekitike who confirmed probably the most promise.
Even earlier than he scored the opener, he was a bundle of vitality, wreaking havoc within the Bournemouth defence together with his off-the-ball motion, runs into the field and link-up play. He additionally turned supplier, making the help for Cody Gakpo’s objective that made it 2-0 for the Reds.
While the attacking show was spectacular, the champions’ defensive frailties had been as soon as once more uncovered.
Frimpong and Kerkez becoming a member of the assault, together with the absence of the suspended Ryan Gravenberch, left a gap within the midfield.
It practically resulted in Liverpool conceding an early objective when, within the seventh minute, Antoine Semenyo blazed a half-volley over the bar. Semenyo, nonetheless, slotted house a cross from David Brooks later. And then within the 76th minute, he sprinted unchallenged for 50 yards with the ball earlier than hammering the equaliser with a shot positioned between centre backs Virgil van Dijk and Ibrahima Konate and away from a diving Alisson Becker.
Liverpool needed to wait until the 88th minute to revive the lead by way of Federico Chiesa’s first objective for the membership, earlier than Mohamed Salah made it 4-2 within the 94th minute.
City’s Reijnders dazzles
There had been quite a few spectacular debuts in different golf equipment. Manchester City’s Tijjani Reijnders stood out with a objective and help in his group’s 4-0 win over Wolverhampton Wanderers. Having ended fifteenth final season, Manchester United, regardless of a 1-0 loss to Arsenal at house, might be optimistic after a formidable present by new recruits Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbuemo.
In the opening weekend of the 38-week Premier League season, Ekitike supplied his supervisor reduction, in addition to a possible downside of a lot.
Liverpool are nonetheless reportedly monitoring wantaway Newcastle United star Alexander Isak. Should the Swede make the swap to Liverpool, Slot can have at his disposal a striker who scored 23 objectives and had six assists final time period.
However, with the way in which Ekitike has hit the bottom working within the Liverpool shirt – he additionally scored within the Community Shield loss towards Crystal Palace – the Frenchman has made a powerful case for being the group’s first-choice striker.
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