Liverpool striker Hugo Ekitiké is drawing on an elite footballing education from his Paris Saint-Germain days as he seeks to establish himself at Anfield. The French forward, who played alongside Lionel Messi, Neymar, and Kylian Mbappé, believes the experience, while limiting his playing time, provided invaluable lessons he's now applying in the Premier League.
Learning from the Legends
Ekitiké provided a fascinating insight into what he absorbed from each of PSG's former superstar attacking trio. From Messi, he focused on developing his vision, learning to see the game several moves ahead. "Maybe like his vision," Ekitiké explained. "Sometimes I try to see things earlier, before I receive the ball."
He credits Neymar with improving his technical flair and ball control, while from international teammate Mbappé, he studied the art of making devastating off-the-ball runs. "I took the runs of Kylian – he could do great runs without the ball," Ekitiké said, though he was quick to note their different styles. "He is quicker than me. I am fast, but he is one of the fastest in the world... I am more like a player who is able to do things for the team."
A Big Brother in Mbappé
The two Frenchmen recently reunited after Liverpool's victory over Real Madrid, a result that marked the club's second consecutive win after a poor run of six defeats in seven matches. Ekitiké and Mbappé spoke for twenty minutes, reflecting on their respective journeys.
"He saw me in a bad position at PSG so he is happy for me that now things are working out," Ekitiké revealed. "He has been like a big brother to me. I was just not playing – it was difficult at the end. He was always good to me, always gave me advice."
Proving His Worth at Liverpool
With Liverpool's record signing, Alexander Isak, currently unfit to start, Ekitiké is poised to lead the line in the crucial upcoming match against Manchester City. This presents another significant opportunity for the 23-year-old to demonstrate that his training-ground osmosis with football's greats has forged a top-class forward.
His journey to this point was unconventional. A lack of game time at his first club, Reims, led to a bold loan move to Danish side Vejle. "It was not a weird move but not what you expect from a young player," he admitted, but it provided the consistent minutes and confidence he needed.
Now under the tutelage of manager Arne Slot, Ekitiké is being pushed to improve his work rate off the ball. Since his move from Eintracht Frankfurt, he has scored six times in 15 appearances. A red card for removing his shirt after scoring a Carabao Cup winner against Southampton led to Slot labelling the act "stupid".
"Obviously keep my shirt on," Ekitiké joked when asked about Slot's guidance. "I would say he's on my back, but not for a bad thing. He just wants to help me... It's a good thing because I think if a coach doesn't like you, he will not speak to you or not try to get the best of you."
Looking ahead, Ekitiké is confident he can form a potent partnership with Isak, despite their limited time on the pitch together. "I think I'm able to play with any players and we can definitely play together," he stated, sure they will "learn how to find connections and links."
As Liverpool prepares to face Manchester City, Ekitiké will also be tasked with containing Erling Haaland, whom he describes as "one of the best strikers in the world for a few years." For a striker who never stops learning, winning this internal and external battle could be the making of Hugo Ekitiké at Liverpool.
