Hugo Ekitike frustration speaks volumes as injury hands Liverpool transfer motivation

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The France international had scored two goals to register his first brace for Liverpool, ending an eight-game drought in the process.But having seen the Reds pegged back by the Whites before conceding a 96th-minute equaliser, the lack of victory stung.“Obviously disappointed with the result… but happy and proud of my first brace in red,” he wrote on Instagram.READ MORE: Arne Slot makes final Mohamed Salah decision ahead of Liverpool star's AFCON departureREAD MORE: Arne Slot confirms new Liverpool injury blows after Brighton winFast forward a week and Ekitike made it back-to-back Premier League braces. But while he was on the winning side this time, that does not mean he was satisfied either.The 23-year-old took just 46 seconds to open the scoring, rifling home Joe Gomez’s knockdown as he fired home Liverpool’s quickest goal since Naby Keita against Huddersfield Town back in April 2019.A second followed shortly after the hour-mark as he rose highest to head home Salah’s corner.

Given the storm over Salah’s recent dropping and his now looming departure to the Africa Cup of Nations, the £79m man's return to scoring form comes at the perfect time.There are admittedly mitigating circumstances as to why the likes of Salah and Alexander Isak are not rivalling the Ekitike at the top of the Reds' scoring charts.But while his arrival at Anfield did not prompt the same summer fanfare as Isak or Wirtz, he remains a shining light in Liverpool’s season and the one summer signing to have truly shown his worth.In a week where there has been plenty of talk about what a Reds side post-Salah will look like, Ekitike is already demonstrating why he will be right at the heart of any new-look Liverpool attack.Deja vu for GomezIt’s hard not to feel sorry for Gomez. The defender could have left the club on transfer deadline day, and perhaps would have had the Reds’ own move for Marc Guehi not fallen through.The club’s longest-serving player, he might have helped Liverpool win a second Premier League title last season - albeit in a bit-part role - but 2025 has, in whole, been more a year to forget.He missed almost the entirety of the second half of last season through injury and had to wait 11 months for his first Premier League start - coming last month against West Ham United - as a result.Marking the occasion with an assist, he was creator again against Brighton when heading the ball down to Ekitike to open the scoring inside the opening minute in an encouraging start to the game after being handed his fourth start from the Reds’ last five matches.But as has often been the case when Gomez puts together a run of performances, injury rears its head once more and then forced off midway through the first half.With Conor Bradley suspended and Jeremie Frimpong still sidelined, though closing in on a return, it was left to Dominik Szoboszlai and then Curtis Jones to once again emerge as makeshift solutions at right-back.Arne Slot had bemoaned having only 13 fit outfield players ahead of facing Brighton and would have had no desire to see such a total dwindle further.

If he is set for a spell on the sidelines, Slot would be left with just two fit senior centre-backs.Giovanni Leoni has already been ruled out for the season with an ACL injury while even makeshift alternative Wataru Endo is currently sidelined with an ankle issue.As links with Guehi continue and with the January transfer window looming, the Reds might have just been handed extra motivation to dip their toes into the centre-back market in the new year.Wirtz’s wait goes onWirtz was recalled to the Liverpool starting XI against Brighton and while initially stationed on the left-wing in the absence of the injured Cody Gakpo, it soon became clear Slot had granted him more of a free role.In the first half in particular, the German was popping up everywhere in the final third as he looked to get on the ball and he caused the Seagulls defence plenty of headaches when given time and space.On another day, he would claim an assist. And at both ends too, with his return of 16 defensive contributions more than any other player.Liverpool’s injuries - and Salah’s departure to AFCON - might ensure that Slot has to continue to play position roulette with Wirtz.And while the goal involvements might still be lacking, though not for a lack of trying, he is continuing to grow in stature for the Reds as their patience starts to pay off.