Hugo Ekitike’s return to former club Eintracht Frankfurt for Liverpool’s Champions League clash comes as the striker faces a significant challenge for a starting role at Anfield.
Signed for an initial £69 million, Ekitike began his Liverpool career strongly, scoring in his first three games, but his momentum has stalled due to the form of teammate Alexander Isak.
The forward, who was pursued by Manchester United and Newcastle, was initially convinced by manager Arne Slot. He recently stated: “This was the best choice… The champions of England. They have great players and history. It just fitted for what I was looking for.”
However, the French forward now finds himself in a £200m double act with Isak, with the Swede increasingly favored by Slot.
Ekitike has started only one of Liverpool’s last five matches across all competitions, leaving Slot to address the difficult question of how the two high-calibre attackers can effectively coexist.