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Liverpool supporters were one of several groups of Premier League fans eager to get a glimpse of a new centre-forward this weekend.

Heading into the summer there was expected to be a merry-go-round of strikers, with plenty of the country’s biggest teams in need of someone to put the ball in the net.

Arsenal signed Viktor Gyokeres, who struggled on debut against Manchester United on Sunday, while United themselves brought in Benjamin Sesko.

Chelsea bought Liam Delap and Joao Pedro, both of whom failed to make an impact on their own debuts, while Liverpool opted for Hugo Ekitike.

Ekitike had an instant impact on his competitive debut for the Reds, scoring a lovely goal in the Community Shield against Crystal Palace.

The Frenchman then backed it up with a goal and an assist on his Premier League debut on Friday.

Of course, it was not a given that Ekitike would end up at Liverpool.

And having seen his team miss out on Ekitike, Newcastle legend Alan Shearer says he looks like a top signing for Liverpool.

Photo by Robbie Jay Barratt – AMA/Getty Images

At one stage in July it had looked as though Newcastle may well sign Ekitike, with plans to play him alongside Alexander Isak.

However, with Liverpool still pushing to sign Isak, that plan has gone horribly wrong for the Magpies.

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Nevertheless, although Shearer is not happy with Liverpool’s conduct surrounding Isak, he has still found it within him to praise the start made by Ekitike.

“I think the one [new] striker who really stood out for me was Ekitike.

An impressive debut,” Gary Lineker told Shearer on The Rest Is Football podcast.

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“It was interesting hearing him talk after the game in terms of with him saying the physicality of the Premier League was slightly different,” Shearer added.

It’s a very, very promising start from him.”

As a very prominent Newcastle supporter, Shearer has obviously been very vocal about not wanting Isak to leave his club.

Clearly, the Premier League legend would have loved to have seen the Swede link up with Ekitike at St James’ Park.

However, with Newcastle fans aiming explicit chants towards Isak at the weekend, the relationship appears to be fully broken there.

There will still be fans who believe that Ekitike and Isak cannot play together given the similarities in their games.

But Liverpool clearly do not feel that way.

And although some will not want the spotlight to be taken from Ekitike, it is clear that adding another top striker to play alongside him will only elevate his game further.
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