Hugo Ekitike vs Benjamin Sesko: Liverpool star has the edge as new data revealed pre-Man United showdown

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(Credit: Imago) Fri 17 October 2025 8:00, UK Hugo Ekitike and Benjamin Sesko will go head-to-head as Liverpool host Man United on 19 October following the international break.Former Red Djibril Cisse has been impressed by Ekitike’s start to life at Liverpool following his move from Eintracht Frankfurt in the summer.Ekitike has had to contend with Alexander Isak for a striker spot this season with Arne Slot welcoming the intense competition down the middle.The Frenchman will be battling against fellow Bundesliga summer hotshot Sesko who joined Man United to appease Ruben Amorim‘s goalscoring woes.Whilst he ended his goal drought in the Premier League, Sesko struggled with Slovenia on international duty, raising eyebrows that he hasn’t fully turned around his poor form.Football Insider dives into the numbers behind the pair’s debut season in the English top-flight as well as casting our eyes back to what made them so promising in the German first division in 2024-25.Credit: ImagoEkitike and Sesko’s brilliance in the Bundesliga warranted Premier League big money movesThe striker prodigies combined cost in excess of £150million, with the extortionate bids submitted by the Reds and the Red Devils making sense off the back of their 2024-25 Bundesliga campaigns. MORE FOOTBALL INSIDER STORIES Sesko notched 13 goals and five assists in 33 appearances for RB Leipzig, outperforming his xG by three as per data from FBRef.Yet, the form of Ekitike who banged in 15 goals and eight assists in 33 games highlights why Liverpool got the better striker over the summer.Credit: ImagoThe Frenchman also amassed a whopping 21.6 xG for Eintracht Frankfurt, showing he was nowhere near his expected output and has far more to offer to Arne Slot.Moreover, the number 22 averaged more shots on target per-90 than the Slovenian with 1.54 surpassing the latter’s 1.10.Additionally, the former PSG forward was a constant threat for Frankfurt, accruing 3.54 shot creating actions per-90, superior to Sesko’s 1.93, demonstrating how Liverpool benefitted in acquiring a much more well-rounded striker.Selected stats from 2024-25 BundesligaHugo EkitikeBenjamin SeskoAppearances (starts)33 (31)33 (30)Minutes played2,5632,380Goals1513Assists85Expected goals (xG)21.610.0Shots per-90 (on target)4.00 (1.54)2.50 (1.10)Shot creating actions per-903.541.93On top of this, Ekitike’s work rate is undeniable as he racked up 3.05 recoveries per-90, bettering the ex-RB Leipzig frontman’s 2.35.Based on these statistics, Slot will be much happier than Amorim to have signed the France international with the United disappointment trailing in various categories.Ekitike continues to edge Sesko as Man United rethink summer moveFrom the first seven matches in the Premier League 2025-26 season, the Frenchman continues to be performing at a greater level than Sesko, even having played one game less.Data sourced from our partnership with Opta demonstrate how Slot will be enthused by the club’s decision to pursue the former Frankfurt striker, whilst Amorim writhes at the disappointment of the Slovenia international thus far.Anfield have been pleasantly surprised by Ekitike’s lightning quick start to his career at the club, racking up three goals in five starts.The Slovenian underwent a five-match goal drought before he scored his first goal against Brentford, following that up with another strike against Sunderland a game later.The ex-RB Salzburg striker has marginally had more shots per-90 with 1.71 compared to Ekitike’s 1.67 yet has been less clinical, converting two of his four big chances.Slot’s summer signing has been more ruthless, scoring two of his three big chances and also amassing 1.92 xG which is 0.33 greater than the Red Devils’ man up top.Conversely, from a defensive perspective, the ex-Stade Reims frontman has won 3.67 duels per-90, highlighting his work rate which Sesko cannot match (3.00).Credit: ImagoBased on these stats, the Portuguese manager will be rightly fuming with one of his blockbuster summer acquisitions who has not met expectations.Moreover, Amorim cannot fall back on another striker to step up with Sesko underperforming, given the decision to loan Rasmus Hojlund to Napoli.Liverpool will be buzzing with their summer recruitment drive and will be relying on Ekitike to be the difference maker when the two sides clash on 19 October.