Van Dijk highlights quiet Ekitike problem that is cause for concern after Liverpool beat Forest - opinion

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Liverpool should not have needed to rely on the VAR to grant them a goal during Sunday’s narrow victory over Nottingham Forest.The Reds had the ball in the net twice during stoppage-time at the City Ground, with the video officials ruling out and then allowing one each of Alexis Mac Allister’s efforts.Before his first goal was adjudged to have come off his elbow and was subsequently disallowed, though, Hugo Ekitike had a golden opportunity to remove any and all doubt. Surely there’s no way back to Salah’s best from here?

That it wasn’t should be cause for concern at Liverpool.Van Dijk says Ekitike should have scored vs ForestAfter a quiet match all around, this header at the death should have been the moment for Ekitike. 22 has now gone four appearances without a goal for Liverpool, and that is starting to become a worry.Photo by Ben STANSALL / AFP via Getty ImagesREAD MORE: Liverpool player ratings: 3/10 for Curtis Jones as Arne Slot’s side scrape past Nottingham Forest“I don’t think we created real clear-cut chances but obviously Hugo’s was massive, he should have scored,” captain Virgil van Dijk told LFCTV after the game.After Mac Allister’s follow-up was then ruled out, it had looked like Ekitike’s miss was going to cost Liverpool two big points.That it did not was only thanks to the tenacity of Van Dijk himself, as well as Mac Allister.

Change my mind Rio Ngumoha was Liverpool’s star man despite barely playing vs Forest Can anyone take the MOM award off him? Photo by Liverpool FC/Liverpool FC via Getty Images Liverpool are really missing Alexander IsakHowever this season ends up, Ekitike has been nothing other than a big hit in his debut year with Liverpool.Having said that, he has gone on stretches of not scoring several times now, and it is very clear that he is not the finished article.All these kinds of performances do is reinforce the fact that Liverpool were absolutely right to sign Alexander Isak alongside the France international last summer.It is difficult to see Isak passing up such opportunities, and the Reds really could do with having him back as soon as possible.Ekitike will surely become more consistent with his finishing and create a deadly duo with the Swede, but while the No.