All eyes were on Hugo Ekitike on Wednesday morning as the new Liverpool striker made his first ever appearance for the Reds.

Despite Tsunami warnings being in place in Japan, Liverpool’s game against Yokohama F.

Marinos was given the green light to go ahead.

And after experimenting during the weekend’s game against AC Milan, Arne Slot named a very strong XI at the Nissan Stadium.

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Ekitike was one of those given the nod, with the Frenchman starting through the middle of a front three alongside Cody Gakpo and Mohamed Salah.

It was a lively 45-minute appearance from Ekitike, with Liverpool fans given a first glimpse of what to expect from their latest arrival.

And although he could not get on the scoresheet during his first match in a Liverpool shirt, Ekitike almost delivered something very special instead.

Photo by Andrew Powell/Liverpool FC via Getty Images

With Liverpool still trying to sign Alexander Isak from Newcastle United, there are some question marks over how Ekitike will eventually play for Liverpool.

In this one, the 23-year-old was very much Liverpool’s central striker, wedged in between Gakpo on the left and Salah on the right.

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Liverpool fans were pleased with Ekitike’s performance, as the former Eintracht Frankfurt man offered a new focal point for Slot’s attack.

And as he glided about the pitch showing intricate touches and clever movement, Ekitike nearly found the net with a lovely flicked finish after good work from Salah and Conor Bradley on the right-hand side.

The goalkeeper had to turn the ingenious effort around the post.

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Commentating for LFCTV, former Liverpool player Gary Gillespie noted how Ekitike very nearly delivered an exceptional moment on debut.

“To be honest with you it’s the only way he could probably get the flick on target, to let it go through his legs and to hit it with the outside of his right foot,” said Gillespie.

“Great skill, almost a great finish, would have been something special.”

Despite the strong line-up for Liverpool, they did not click especially well during the first-half in Yokohama.

The pitch undoubtedly played a factor, with the grass clearly cutting up right from the first minute.

There was some good link-up play but all too often Liverpool’s final touch or pass was just not quite up to scratch.

Gakpo had the best moment for the Reds, cutting inside and curling an effort low against the post early into the game.

At the other end, Liverpool were almost exposed on the counter-attack again, but Giorgi Mamardashvili came to the rescue, making a first save of note for the Reds, tipping a header around the post.
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