If there’s one silver lining from Liverpool’s deeply disappointing 3-3 draw against Leeds United on Saturday, it’s that Hugo Ekitike has firmly established himself as the striker who should feature in Arne Slot’s Starting XI whenever he’s fit.
Following a first half marked by wasted chances and the Reds’ ongoing lack of clinical edge, Ekitike scored twice in quick succession after halftime to give Liverpool a 2–0 lead that should have set them on course for three points.
It would have been a result that would have lifted them to fifth place, a position supporters would’ve gladly taken given this season’s horrid form.
The shambolic defending had other ideas, but Ekitike, alongside Liverpool’s other lone reliable contributor this season Dominik Szoboszlai, did everything he could to drag the Reds to a win.
His brace brings him to eight goals in 21 appearances across all competitions, making him the club’s leading scorer in his first season on Merseyside.
Ekitike’s arrival from Eintracht Frankfurt came as a bit of a surprise, especially amid rival bids from Newcastle, who appeared to view him as Alexander Isak’s replacement. Instead, Liverpool wound up with both players in a stunning twist.
While an abundance of attacking talent once seemed like a supporter’s dream, it may be time to accept that starting Ekitike over the Swede in nearly every fixture, until proven otherwise, is the move Arne Slot now has to make.
More time on the pitch has been key
With league goals against Bournemouth, Newcastle, Everton and now Leeds, Ekitiké has proven that he's capable of scoring when equipped with one valuable asset: minutes.
During matches in which he's found the back of the net, the striker averaged over 75 minutes on the pitch, showing he can produce goals when given close to a full 90.
By contrast, in games where he hasn’t scored, he’s averaged just under 50 minutes—seemingly not enough time to find a rhythm.
Rather than functioning as a classic super-sub, Ekitike has shown that he needs time to grow into a match—hardly something to fault in his first season in England—but once he settles, he’s been lethal.
The match against Leeds is a perfect example: Ekitike logged 83 minutes at Elland Road, his second-highest total of the season.
Slot could easily have turned to Isak at halftime, as he has in other games, but trusting the former Bundesliga standout proved essential in at least salvaging a point from an otherwise dreadful performance.
Liverpool’s other attackers have had plenty of opportunities to prove themselves, particularly Cody Gakpo, who has logged nearly 350 more league minutes than Ekitike yet produced a far blander impact.
Yet the Frenchman is the only member of the current front three who has consistently delivered when given meaningful minutes.
Swallowing pride on Isak's price tag— for now
I still have no doubt that, sooner or later, Isak will be scoring regularly in a Liverpool shirt. But it doesn’t feel like that moment is coming just yet.
Apart from a Carabao Cup tally against Southampton—which now feels all but meaningless—Isak has managed just one goal in a Liverpool shirt so far.
A range of factors, from adjusting to a new club to missing a proper preseason, have likely contributed to his slow start at Anfield.
For now, while it’s understandable that fans likely expect him to justify his hefty price tag with immediate returns, it may be best to let him regain his spark while allowing Ekitike to take the spotlight.
Against Leeds, Ekitike was substituted for Isak, which seemed fair as No. 22 looked a bit fatigued.
Still, it’s hard not to wonder what might have happened if Eki had stayed on, likely hungry for a hat trick—especially as Isak sent a great chance sailing wide in the 90th minute, a miss that could have sealed a 4–2 win for Liverpool.
Instead, Leeds broke forward and equalized at the death. They say oftentimes attack is the best defense, and while it’s always risky to dwell on hypotheticals, one can’t help but wonder: could Liverpool have secured all three points if Ekitike had played the full 90?
This isn’t to say Isak cost Liverpool the three points—the responsibility clearly lies with the defense—but perhaps the result underscored that he may need a little more time to blossom into the player fans know he can be, while Ekitike continues to impress.
Maintaining precedent
Speaking of managerial decisions, Mohamed Salah being benched for the third consecutive game—right or wrong in the eyes of fans—clearly shows that Arne Slot is willing to set big names aside to pick the XI he believes is best for the team. Sitting Ekitike on the bench next time out would feel like a contradiction of that principle.
Yes, Isak just had a phenomenal season, scoring 23 goals, second in the league only to Salah, but it’s becoming increasingly clear that Ekitike is the man to lead the line as Liverpool strive to recover from a nightmare first half of the season.
Take it from Slot himself: "Last season, when we did well, the focus was on individuals, but I always said it's about the team, and the team makes the individuals look good," the skipper said following the crushing 4-1 loss to PSV.
Naturally, there may be pressure from the board to justify Isak's purchase, but if the priority is truly putting the team above the individual, starting Ekitike would reinforce that ideal.
With the Salah situation seemingly reaching a boiling point, following the Egyptian’s public criticism of his manager after the Leeds draw, the last thing Liverpool need is another personality clash.
Given that there’s little doubt Ekitike feels he deserves to start, giving him a consistent place in the XI appears to be the best way to satisfy the player, management, and fans alike.