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Dominik Szoboszlai and Florian Wirtz of Liverpool talk as they take to the pitch prior to the Premier League match against Bournemouth at Anfield on August 15 2025(Image: Liverpool FC/Liverpool FC via Getty Images)

Here we go again.

So continues the throbbing sense of deja vu from the previous time Liverpool were reigning Premier League champions five years ago.

First came the debate over whether three senior centre-backs was sufficient cover for the position, concerns admittedly having been eased with the arrival of teenager Giovanni Leoni from Parma and the ongoing interest in Crystal Palace's Marc Guehi.

Then there was the Community Shield defeat on penalties to London opposition at Wembley, Palace replicating the achievement of Arsenal in 2020.

While not shirking the challenge, it's clearly going to be some time before the 22-year-old is fully adjusted to both his new club and a new league.

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“I think he did well," says Liverpool skipper Virgil van Dijk.

I'm glad he has got off the mark in the Premier League and hopefully there is more to come.

“I think he settled pretty great in the team in general, but we all know the life of a striker – you can score and everything is rainbows and sunshine – and you don't and it's a different world.

He just has to keep his head down, scoring and making assists, and be impressive in defending and attacking and see what the season brings for him."

Indeed, with Liverpool still interested in wantaway Newcastle United striker Alexander Isak, Ekitike may be wise to continue making the most of the opportunity as a number nine, with St James' Park the next step on Monday week.

Of course, there will be supporters worried that after easing off the gas during the end of last season - Liverpool took only two points from their final four games - it won't be straightforward for those involved in the title win to put the foot down fully again.

When in 1983 Liverpool's dominance was such they failed to win any of their last seven games in sauntering to the title, the following campaign they won only four of their first eight league matches.

That said, Liverpool eventually clicked into gear and ended up claiming the treble of championship, League Cup and European Cup that season.

Nobody is expecting quite that from the current Reds vintage - not least given they remain a work in progress for the foreseeable future.

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