WHAT’S MISSING? WHY 16 GOALS AND 6 ASSISTS AREN'T ENOUGH FOR HUGO EKITIKE
Liverpool's top scorer Hugo Ekitike reflects on a massive win at Anfield and explains why he’s still hungry for more goals.
Hugo Ekitike isn’t exactly thrilled with his goal tally for Liverpool this season, even though he’s still leading the pack as the club’s top scorer.
He got his 16th goal of the season on Saturday, kicking things off in Liverpool’s 5-2 win over West Ham at Anfield. Not bad for his debut year. Plus, the 23-year-old, who came over from Eintracht Frankfurt last summer for up to £79 million, set up two more goals for Alexis Mac Allister and Cody Gakpo. That puts him at 22 goal involvements so far.
Still, Ekitike thinks he’s got a lot more to give. He missed solid chances against Nottingham Forest, Sunderland, and Manchester City recently, and that’s still bugging him.
“To be honest, I could score more,” he said. “I’m not that happy! But it’s not just about goals; it’s assists too. On Saturday, I set up one or two. As long as I’m helping the team and being involved, that’s what really matters. I want to win, so in that way, I’m happy.
“Obviously, I can improve. I could’ve scored in those last games; I had some good chances. So I’ll keep working. I want to be the best I can for the team, because I know I can do more.
“It’s all about learning and getting better. I’ll try to step it up in the next games, score more, and get involved even more.”
His goal against West Ham came after Liverpool kept the pressure on from a corner. Four of their goals that day came straight from, or just after, set pieces.
“We had some problems at the start of the season,” Ekitike said about Liverpool’s set-piece struggles. “We’ve all talked about it and worked on it together in training. It’s great to see it paying off now. We deserved it; honestly, we’ve put a lot of work into this.”
Saturday was the first of seven huge games in just over three weeks. Liverpool were up 3-0 at halftime, but West Ham didn’t just roll over; they made Liverpool work for it in the second half, fighting to stay out of the relegation zone.
Talking to liverpoolfc.com, Ekitike said, “Scoring early in games like that helps, for the team and for the fans. You feel more confident. And going in at halftime 3-0 up, that’s always good.
“But they showed it’s not over till it’s over, they fought back, and we let a couple in. When that happens, you have to score more, and we did. We got five.
“We’ve got to keep going, because there’s a long way left in the season. But yeah, I’m really happy. That win mattered.”
JAMES PEARCE IDENTIFIES MAC ALLISTER, CHIESA, GOMEZ, AND JONES AS POTENTIAL SUMMER DEPARTURES
James Pearce reveals Liverpool’s transfer shortlist. From Mac Allister to Chiesa, see who is leaving Anfield in 2026.
A leading Liverpool journalist has highlighted four key first-team players who could be on their way out of Anfield this summer. Among them, it may finally be time to consider offloading Alexis Mac Allister, possibly to Real Madrid.
Following Liverpool’s 4-0 aggregate loss to PSG, manager Arne Slot openly discussed the idea that this group of players is reaching the twilight of its cycle. He described Liverpool as a club in transition, navigating the natural ebb and flow that comes with player turnover. Several of the club’s most successful figures have already left or are about to depart.
Slot mentioned that this will continue through free transfers. Mo Salah and Andrew Robertson both fall into this category, with the latter already confirmed to leave, while Trent Alexander-Arnold’s departure has occurred. The club needs to recover funds and reinvest, which is a familiar pattern for teams in this phase.
As has been reported, both Robertson and Salah will move on in the summer. This opens the door for recruits; for example, TEAMtalk recently revealed plans to bring in David Raum at left-back. Alongside that, a new winger is expected, with Yan Diomande from RB Leipzig currently the leading candidate.
James Pearce of The Athletic, a respected Liverpool insider, adds that beyond those departures, four more notable players might follow the exodus, reinforcing the idea that Liverpool needs “major surgery.” Fu Federico Chiesa is reportedly set to leave, while uncertainties persist over Joe Gomez and Curtis Jones, each with only a year left on their contracts.
Also under discussion is Ibrahima Konate’s future. Talks over a contract extension are ongoing, but Pearce questions whether the time might be right to cash in on Mac Allister, especially given his recent dip in form.
While Konate’s situation remains unresolved, the consensus leans toward him re-signing at Anfield. That leaves Gomez, Jones, Mac Allister, and Chiesa as the primary candidates for potential exits.
Mac Allister’s possible departure would be the biggest shock of the lot. At 27, he’s in what should be the prime of his career, having earned a spot in the PFA team of the year less than a season ago. His contract also extends further than those of Gomez and Jones, running until 2028.
Yet, his performances this Premier League season have often looked sluggish, and he’s struggled to adapt to the league’s physical demands. The shift toward a more power- and set-piece-oriented style doesn’t seem to favour his game.
Real Madrid frequently comes up in the Spanish media as a likely destination for the World Cup winner. While a transfer might have seemed unlikely last year, it now feels more plausible. The Spanish league’s emphasis on technical skill over sheer physicality could suit Mac Allister much better.
There’s also talk that a swap deal involving Mac Allister and Eduardo Camavinga isn’t out of the question.
Chiesa is expected to head back to Italy if he leaves, while Curtis Jones remains a target for Inter Milan, who showed interest earlier this year. Gomez’s next move is less clear, but if his long stint at Liverpool ends, questions will linger over where he might head.
HUGO EKITIKE SUFFERS RUPTURED ACHILLES TENDON; SURGERY AND LONG-TERM REHAB EXPECTED
Hugo Ekitike is out for nine months! Discover how Liverpool and France will cope without the £79m star.
Liverpool striker Hugo Ekitike is set for a long spell on the sidelines after picking up a serious injury against Paris Saint-Germain. He’s out of this summer’s World Cup.
He started Tuesday’s Champions League quarter-final at Anfield, facing his former club, but things took a bad turn. About half an hour in, Ekitike went down off the ball, and the sight of him being stretchered off left everyone concerned.
Medical tests didn’t bring good news. Ekitike has a ruptured Achilles tendon, which means he won’t be back for months. Reports say we won’t see him again for eight or nine months.
That kind of layoff keeps him out for the rest of this season and well into the 2026/27 campaign, with a return likely not until early 2027.
He’ll also miss the World Cup in North America. France, one of the tournament favourites, will have to get by without him. They’re in Group I with Senegal, Iraq, and Norway.
For Liverpool, Ekitike’s absence is a huge blow. The club is aiming for a top-five Premier League finish to secure a spot in the Champions League for next season. After a much-needed 2-0 win over Fulham on Saturday, Liverpool sits fifth, four points up on Chelsea with six matches left. The Merseyside derby at Everton comes next, and Liverpool also faces Crystal Palace, Chelsea, Brentford, Manchester United, and Aston Villa.
It’s been a tough campaign already. After a heavy defeat to PSG, which knocked them out of the Champions League, the pressure has grown on manager Arne Slot. Now, with Ekitike out, there’s even more riding on Alexander Isak, who’s just coming back from a broken leg. He started against PSG but only lasted 45 minutes. Mohamed Salah, nearing a summer exit, will be counted on even more in his final months at Anfield.
Ekitike signed from Eintracht Frankfurt for £79 million last summer and was having a solid first season in England, with 17 goals in 45 games across all competitions. Now, Liverpool has to find a way to move forward without him.
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