Liverpool this season have started in a way that has surprised even their own supporters. Four games, four wins, 12 points, and sitting right on top of the Premier League table. Yet anybody who has watched those games closely knows it has not been all perfect, it has not been all free-flowing attacking football, it has not been all comfort and control. No, the story of Arne Slot’s first Premier League campaign has been one of drama, struggle, resilience, and late heroics. Every single league victory so far has been earned in the final ten minutes, with goals after the 80th minute rescuing points and turning tight contests into wins. It is the sort of start that reminds fans of the 2020 title-winning season under Jürgen Klopp, when Liverpool found a way no matter how tough it got. But now there is a new man on the touchline, and new heroes rising to define the Slot era.
One of those heroes is a player many fans did not expect to become the headline act so quickly. Hugo Ekitike, the young French striker who arrived at Anfield with questions over whether he was ready for this level, has not only silenced those doubts but has ignited belief across Merseyside. Just four games into his Premier League adventure with Liverpool, Ekitike is already winning praise from pundits, ex-players, and supporters alike. And this week, former Manchester City defender turned popular pundit Micah Richards could not hide his shock at how good Ekitike has been. On the podcast *The Rest is Football*, Richards described him as “outstanding” and admitted that the Frenchman has surprised him with just how strong, aggressive, and dangerous he is.
Richards is not someone easily impressed. He has played at the highest level, battled against some of the best strikers in the world, and now watches Premier League action every single week in his role as a pundit. So when he singles out a player for praise, especially one as young and relatively untested as Ekitike, it carries weight. “What he has is something different,” Richards explained. “He’s better in the air than I thought he was. Obviously, being that size, you’d think they should be good in the air, but he throws himself about. He’s stronger than I thought. I didn’t know if he was quick, what his running behind would be like, and whether he could link up play – but he’s more aggressive than I thought. And I think, yeah, he’s been outstanding, to be honest.”
That word *outstanding* has been used before at Anfield. It was one of Klopp’s favorites when describing players like Salah, Van Dijk, or Mane after their biggest performances. Now, hearing it attached to Ekitike in the Slot era is significant. The Frenchman has quickly earned the respect not only of his manager and teammates but of those who analyze the game for a living. Yet, as much as Richards has been shocked by his impact, there is also another side to the story: the looming presence of Alexander Isak.
Liverpool did not just invest in Ekitike this summer; they spent £125 million to bring Isak from Newcastle United in what was one of the biggest transfers in European football. The Swedish striker is a proven Premier League talent, a player admired across the continent for his technique, composure, and finishing ability. Isak is the type of striker you build a team around, the type you rely on when chasing titles and trophies. But in a twist of fate, it is Ekitike who has seized the spotlight while Isak continues his recovery and adapts to life under Slot.
Alan Shearer, the Premier League’s all-time top scorer and a Newcastle legend, made an important point when analyzing the situation. Speaking on the same podcast, Shearer suggested that while Ekitike deserves praise for his start, the big question is what happens when Isak is fully fit and ready to lead the line. “It’s going to be fascinating to see how they get them all in,” Shearer said. “And I know they’ve got a lot of games this season, they’ll play a ridiculous number of games because they’ll go for it in every competition. But you always have a go-to, don’t you? You have your best striker. It’ll be really interesting to see how they fit them all in there.”
That dilemma is one Arne Slot will soon have to face. For now, Ekitike is proving undroppable. His energy, aggression, and willingness to press defenders have given Liverpool an edge in attack, and his goals have been crucial in securing points. Against Bournemouth, he scored in front of the Kop and celebrated with the raw emotion of a player who knows he has something to prove. Against Burnley, he fought for every ball, drawing fouls, making runs, and showing why Liverpool trusted him. Yet when Isak is back to full sharpness, the big money signing cannot simply sit on the bench. Slot will need to find a way to balance his options – perhaps playing two strikers, perhaps rotating, or perhaps making a brave decision about who his true number one is.
What makes this situation even more intriguing is the wider context of Liverpool’s season. They are chasing glory on multiple fronts: the Premier League, the Champions League, the FA Cup, and more. Depth will be key. Injuries will come. Rotations will be necessary. Slot knows he cannot rely on just one striker, no matter how good. That is why Liverpool brought in both Isak and Ekitike, to ensure they had options and could compete with the likes of Manchester City, Arsenal, and Real Madrid at the highest level.
Still, football is a ruthless business. Players do not like being rotated too much, strikers especially. Confidence is built on rhythm, on minutes, on goals. Ekitike’s confidence is sky-high right now, while Isak will soon demand the chance to build his own. Something will have to give, and fans are already debating who should start when both are available. Some say Isak, with his price tag and proven record, must be first choice. Others believe Ekitike has earned the right to stay in the team until he gives Slot a reason to take him out.
This debate is part of what makes football so fascinating. Every week brings new evidence, new talking points, new twists. For Liverpool fans, it is a welcome problem after years of watching the attack rely heavily on Salah and one or two others. Now, there is variety, depth, and unpredictability. Ekitike offers something different – youth, hunger, strength, and aerial power. Isak offers elegance, skill, and clinical finishing. Together, they could form one of the deadliest partnerships in Europe, if Slot dares to unleash them side by side.
For now, though, the spotlight belongs to Ekitike. The Frenchman has gone from being a surprise signing to becoming one of the most talked-about young players in the Premier League. Micah Richards is shocked, Alan Shearer is intrigued, and Liverpool fans are falling in love with a player who is making Anfield his stage. As long as he keeps scoring, keeps fighting, and keeps surprising, the calls for him to remain in the starting XI will only grow louder. And if he can help Liverpool maintain their perfect start and push for titles, then his story could become one of the great success tales of this new era.
The season is still young, the challenges are still ahead, and the toughest tests are yet to come. But already, Hugo Ekitike has shown he belongs at Liverpool. He has shown he has the strength, the mentality, and the hunger to thrive. And he has shown that sometimes, the players you least expect to shine can end up being the ones who define an entire season.
