Hugo Ekitike must be in Liverpool's Starting XI for the foreseeable future
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If there’s one silver lining from Liverpool’s deeply disappointing 3-3 draw against Leeds United on Saturday, it’s that Hugo Ekitike has firmly established himself as the striker who should feature in Arne Slot’s Starting XI whenever he’s fit.Following a first half marked by wasted chances and the Reds’ ongoing lack of clinical edge, Ekitike scored twice in quick succession after halftime to give Liverpool a 2–0 lead that should have set them on course for three points. It would have been a result that would have lifted them to fifth place, a position supporters would’ve gladly taken given this season’s horrid form.The shambolic defending had other ideas, but Ekitike, alongside Liverpool’s other lone reliable contributor this season Dominik Szoboszlai, did everything he could to drag the Reds to a win.
His brace brings him to eight goals in 21 appearances across all competitions, making him the club’s leading scorer in his first season on Merseyside.Ekitike’s arrival from Eintracht Frankfurt came as a bit of a surprise, especially amid rival bids from Newcastle, who appeared to view him as Alexander Isak’s replacement. Instead, Liverpool wound up with both players in a stunning twist.While an abundance of attacking talent once seemed like a supporter’s dream, it may be time to accept that starting Ekitike over the Swede in nearly every fixture, until proven otherwise, is the move Arne Slot now has to make.Leeds United v Liverpool - Premier League | Robbie Jay Barratt - AMA/GettyImagesMore time on the pitch has been keyWith league goals against Bournemouth, Newcastle, Everton and now Leeds, Ekitiké has proven that he's capable of scoring when equipped with one valuable asset: minutes.During matches in which he's found the back of the net, the striker averaged over 75 minutes on the pitch, showing he can produce goals when given close to a full 90.
By contrast, in games where he hasn’t scored, he’s averaged just under 50 minutes—seemingly not enough time to find a rhythm.Rather than functioning as a classic super-sub, Ekitike has shown that he needs time to grow into a match—hardly something to fault in his first season in England—but once he settles, he’s been lethal.The match against Leeds is a perfect example: Ekitike logged 83 minutes at Elland Road, his second-highest total of the season. They say oftentimes attack is the best defense, and while it’s always risky to dwell on hypotheticals, one can’t help but wonder: could Liverpool have secured all three points if Ekitike had played the full 90?This isn’t to say Isak cost Liverpool the three points—the responsibility clearly lies with the defense—but perhaps the result underscored that he may need a little more time to blossom into the player fans know he can be, while Ekitike continues to impress.Leeds United v Liverpool - Premier League | Robbie Jay Barratt - AMA/GettyImagesMaintaining precedentSpeaking of managerial decisions, Mohamed Salah being benched for the third consecutive game—right or wrong in the eyes of fans—clearly shows that Arne Slot is willing to set big names aside to pick the XI he believes is best for the team.