Arne Slot vindicated by £209m Liverpool transfer decision after Everton win - 'Definitely necessary'

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Arne Slot saluted derby hero Hugo Ekitike as proof Liverpool needed two big-money strikers this summer.

Ekitike scored a fourth goal in seven games since his £79m move from Eintracht Frankfurt to ultimately secure a 2-1 win for the Reds against Everton on Saturday.

The France international was replaced midway through the second half by Alexander Isak, who was making a Premier League debut for his new club after his £125m move from Newcastle United.

And of Ekitike’s derby heroics, Slot said: “I was impressed, but we knew what we brought in.

Every team in this league has two number nines, Everton did as well.

“We have two number nines of excellent quality like our competitors have as well.

“Now it’s really a good thing because Hugo is definitely not ready, coming from a different league, to play three times 90 minutes at this pace in the way this play as we have a high intense game and constantly try to press.

“It’s a high pace game we try to play.

Alex as we all know has only trained two weeks with the team when he didn’t do for four months.

“To have two now is definitely necessary and every top Premier League team has two great numbers nines – and we do as well.”

Ekitike struck inside the opening half-hour after Ryan Gravenberch had put Liverpool into an early lead.

However, Idrissa Gueye’s 58th-minute strike for Everton ensured another nervy finale, with the Reds having lost a two-goal lead three times already this season.

And head coach Slot added: “We needed a winning mentality in a different fashion to a few times before.

“We always knew how difficult a game this would be if you have proper preparation time.

“But if it’s the third game in less than seven days against your rivals, then you know the second half could be very tough and that’s why I made my line-ups throughout the week as I did to be ready for this one.

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“We knew this would be the most intense of the three and you can see how well we can play if we are fresh, first 45 minutes were unbelievable the way we played.

“The second half was more difficult because of Everton and because we ran a bit out of energy – but we didn’t run out of mentality.”

Liverpool return to action on Tuesday when they host Championship side Southampton in the Carabao Cup third round (8pm kick-off).