Listing the glittering array of Hugo Ekitiké's previous and current teammates would make a lesser participant blush. The Liverpool striker lined up alongside Lionel Messi, Neymar and Kylian Mbappé throughout his Paris Saint-Germain days, limiting the alternatives for the younger striker however offering a terrific education for somebody who wants each bit of data to have the sting over his present membership's file signing, Alexander Isak.
Ekitiké will come up towards a pair extra former colleagues in Omar Marmoush and Gianluigi Donnarumma when Liverpool go to Manchester Metropolis on Sunday. The Frenchman will lead the road, with Isak not match to start out and maybe unable to function. Will probably be one other likelihood for Ekitiké to show his training-ground osmosis has turned him right into a top-class ahead.
What did he take from Messi? “Perhaps like his imaginative and prescient. Typically I attempt to see issues earlier, earlier than I obtain the ball. [From] Neymar I took some tips and abilities, ball management. I took the runs of Kylian – he might do nice runs with out the ball. So many issues, it's troublesome to record. However I positively took stuff from their sport. I attempt to take issues from the gamers I like. I like to look at and attempt to add to my sport to make me extra full.
“He [Mbappé] is faster than me. I'm quick, however he is likely one of the quickest on the planet. I hope sooner or later I get there however we're a special kind of participant. He has loads of velocity, I'm extra like a participant who is ready to do issues for the staff.”
The 2 France internationals reunited on Tuesday when Liverpool inflicted defeat on Actual Madrid. After a troublesome run for Liverpool of six defeats in seven matches, they've two consecutive victories. Mbappé and Ekitiké had a 20-minute chat, discussing how far they've come for the reason that former was dominating at PSG and the latter primarily watching from the bench.
“He noticed me in a foul place at PSG so he's comfortable for me that now issues are figuring out,” Ekitiké mentioned. “He has been like a giant brother to me. I used to be simply not taking part in – it was troublesome on the finish. He was all the time good to me, all the time gave me recommendation.”
A scarcity of sport time at his first membership, Reims, resulted in Ekitiké making the daring determination to affix the Danish facet Vejle on mortgage. “It was not a bizarre transfer however not what you count on from a younger participant. Most thought I'd go to the second division in France however I made the selection to go to Denmark. Clearly it was troublesome however actually good. I obtained constant minutes, I realized loads from this league, the opponents have been actually sturdy, I obtained confidence for after I returned to France.”
Ekitiké is doing his finest to heed Arne Slot's recommendation to work more durable off the ball. Since becoming a member of from Eintracht Frankfurt, the 23-year-old has scored six instances in 15 appearances and acquired a pink card after a second reserving for celebrating netting the Carabao Cup winner towards Southampton by eradicating his shirt, resulting in Slot calling his exuberance “silly”.
What different steering has Slot supplied Ekitiké? “Clearly maintain my shirt on,” he says with a smile. “I'd say he's on my again, however not for a foul factor. He simply needs to assist me, so I don't take that badly. He needs me to present increasingly. Perhaps generally you're feeling prefer it's a bit of bit an excessive amount of and also you need to complain. It's factor as a result of I believe if a coach doesn't such as you, he won't converse to you or not attempt to get the very best of you.”
Health, suspension and techniques have stored Ekitiké and Isak aside for all however 62 minutes. Each are naturally No 9s, preventing it out for the beginning place in a 4-3-3, however Ekitiké has frolicked on the wings. “I believe I'm capable of play with any gamers and we will positively play collectively,” Ekitiké says. He's sure they'll “discover ways to discover connections and hyperlinks”.
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Erling Haaland has supplied a superb instance of what it's to be a world-class No 9, scoring 27 instances for membership and nation this season. Ekitiké will hope his teammates can maintain the Norwegian out however, primarily based on current proof, that may show troublesome. “He's been among the finest strikers on the planet for just a few years,” Ekitiké says. “He's capable of do issues with out touching the ball a lot throughout the sport, and it's actually spectacular. He's positively somebody I'm taking a look at.”
Lots might be taking a look at Ekitiké, too. There may be an inner battle of the No 9s at Liverpool and if Ekitiké is to be the victor, successful this head-to-head with Haaland will assist the reason for a striker who by no means stops studying.
