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

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

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

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

Regardless, Liverpool may be optimistic for the longer term. The likes of Florian Wirtz and Alexander Isak could not have discovered type but following record-breaking summer time strikes, however these are two of probably the most proficient 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

Wanting even deeper into the Merseysiders’ squad, although, we are able to see that Liverpool are elevating a college of kids with a lot potential, and regardless of the bump within the street 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 useless as they pushed forward to land Isak’s signature this summer time, however Ekitike has responded emphatically on the pitch.

So cellular and inventive, Ekitike provides excess of simply targets. 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 capability to cut and alter his attacking outlook is one among his largest strengths. He’s tactically malleable, and it will serve him effectively over the approaching years.

He is been the cream of the attacking crop this season, for certain, 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 sure to hit his world-class stride at some stage.

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

The Liverpool teen who may 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 street towards making himself recognized, for certain. The 19-year-old striker has scored seven targets from 9 league outings in Rob Web page’s improvement facet this season, that means he’s at the moment 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 robust 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 arduous to return by in a Reds facet chock-full with attacking expertise, Slot is clearly a fan.

It is most likely value 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”.

This can be a exceptional, medical run for the prospect, and if he manages to show that he has unlocked a sustainable attacking high quality, there’s each probability he might 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 preserving a transparent pathway open, operating from the academy set-up to the senior squad.

Figueroa deserves a shot, particularly since all of the pictures he takes proper now are discovering the again of the web. In fact, we have now seen already this season the advantages that may be discovered from giving hungry children an opportunity (taking a look at you, Ngumoha).

Given Liverpool’s struggles on the highest degree over the previous a number of months, Figueroa’s inclusion within the months forward may not be a nasty factor, ought to he proceed to attain at such a medical fee.

He may not be on Ekitike’s degree in the intervening time, however his physicality and natural-born eye for objective recommend he may turn into an actual star on Merseyside, maybe even happening to eclipse the Frenchman down the road.