Liverpool have a “ruthless” 19-year-old striker who might surpass Ekitike

Arne Slot‘s Anfield is peopled with a wide range of top-class expertise, however Liverpool have nonetheless struggled to click on into gear this season.

In fact, this was all the time going to be a testing 12 months for the Reds after the occasions of the summer season, and the squad deserve a measure of leeway.

However the soccer will simply maintain coming, and Liverpool know that they can’t enable their wretched Premier League kind to rage on, having misplaced 5 of their previous six matches within the division.

Regardless, Liverpool may be optimistic for the long run. The likes of Florian Wirtz and Alexander Isak might not have discovered kind but following record-breaking summer season strikes, however these are two of essentially the most gifted gamers in England, and their success on the membership is a matter of when, not if.

No such misfortune for Hugo Ekitike, although, who has been thriving since finishing a £69m transfer to the membership from Eintracht Frankfurt in July.

The numbers behind Hugo Ekitike’s begin at Liverpool

Trying even deeper into the Merseysiders’ squad, although, we are able to see that Liverpool are elevating a faculty of kids with a lot potential, and regardless of the bump within the highway this 12 months, there’s one who has the capability to finish up outstripping Ekitike at quantity 9.

Some felt Liverpool’s hijack of Newcastle United’s transfer for the France ahead was unnecessary as they pushed forward to land Isak’s signature this summer season, however Ekitike has responded emphatically on the pitch.

So cellular and inventive, Ekitike affords excess of simply objectives. Information from FBref tells of his protean high quality, rating among the many prime 8% of Premier League strikers this time period for shot-creating actions and the highest 2% for profitable take-ons per 90.

Throughout all competitions, he has scored greater than every other Redman this time period, and this, having joined a loose-wired tactical machine from abroad.

The 23-year-old’s skill to cut and alter his attacking outlook is certainly one of his greatest strengths. He’s tactically malleable, and it will serve him properly over the approaching years.

He is been the cream of the attacking crop this season, for positive, and appears set for a propitious future on Merseyside. That mentioned, he’ll proceed to tussle with Isak for minutes, and the Sweden striker is certain to hit his world-class stride at some stage.

Furthermore, Liverpool are growing an academy star who has the potential to go all the best way.

The Liverpool teen who might surpass Ekitike

When ‘Klopp’s Youngsters’ helped steer Liverpool’s iconic supervisor to silverware in his remaining season, followers thought the membership had unearthed a treasure trove of up-and-coming expertise.

Most of these stars have since moved on, however Liverpool’s academy system has continued to evolve and several other stars are displaying themselves to have actual potential.

Trey Nyoni and Rio Ngumoha are the most important names, however Keyrol Figueroa is on the highway towards making himself recognized, for positive. The 19-year-old striker has scored seven objectives from 9 league outings in Rob Web page’s improvement facet this season, that means he’s at present the membership’s prime scorer throughout all ranges, forward of Ekitike.

In October, Slot named Figueroa amongst his substitutes within the Carabao Cup at Anfield. Liverpool have been thrashed 3-0 by Crystal Palace, however this stood as a testomony to the regard {the teenager}, son of former Premier League star Maynor Figueroa, is held in.

A strong runner, robust within the duel and tenacious throughout all phases of play, Figueroa is on the cusp of breaking onto the most important stage, and whereas he’ll discover alternatives laborious to return by in a Reds facet chock-full with attacking expertise, Slot is clearly a fan.

It is in all probability price noting that Liverpool U21s haven’t been at their greatest this 12 months. After 9 matches, Web page’s outfit are twenty first within the 29-team league.

They’ve solely gained three video games, however in every of those fixtures, Figueroa has scored. He has began solely 5 of 9 outings this season. It is clear to see why Web page has mentioned he has the making of a “deadly, ruthless quantity 9“.

It is a outstanding, medical run for the prospect, and if he manages to show that he has unlocked a sustainable attacking high quality, there’s each likelihood he could possibly be knocking on Slot’s door before many would have anticipated, frankly.

There was a transparent emphasis over the previous a number of years at Liverpool on maintaining a transparent pathway open, working from the academy set-up to the senior squad.

Figueroa deserves a shot, particularly since all of the pictures he’s taking proper now are discovering the again of the online. After all, we’ve seen already this season the advantages that may be discovered from giving hungry children an opportunity ( you, Ngumoha).

Given Liverpool’s struggles on the highest stage over the previous a number of months, Figueroa’s inclusion within the months forward won’t be a foul factor, ought to he proceed to attain at such a medical fee.

He won’t be on Ekitike’s stage in the meanwhile, however his physicality and natural-born eye for objective recommend he might develop into an actual star on Merseyside, maybe even happening to eclipse the Frenchman down the road.

Associated

Larger mistake than Quansah: Liverpool offered their subsequent Gravenberch for £15m

Liverpool made an even bigger mistake than offloading Jarell Quansah after they removed their very own Ryan Gravenberch for simply £15m.