Ekitike’s Brace Snatches Victory for Liverpool at Anfield, Dampening Newcastle’s Hopes
The air at Anfield crackled with anticipation, a stark contrast to the muted performance that had preceded it. Newcastle United, having arrived with a renewed sense of optimism following their midweek draw in Paris, found their aspirations swiftly dismantled by the clinical brilliance of Hugo Ekitike. The Liverpool striker, a player Eddie Howe had openly admitted to pursuing twice, single-handedly turned the tide of the match, leaving the Magpies to ponder what might have been.
Howe, the Newcastle manager, found himself in a peculiar position. Three strikers were present in the stands behind him – two of his own expensive summer acquisitions who were benched, and Alexander Isak, a player he had lost to Liverpool and who was sidelined through injury. Yet, it was the striker on the pitch, the one he truly desired, who ultimately decided the contest.
“I’ve tried to sign him twice,” Howe had remarked on Friday, his words now echoing with a prophetic tone. “He has got a bit of everything. He has great movement, can score with both feet and dribbles really well.” This assessment proved remarkably accurate, as Ekitike, with minimal need for a crystal ball, demonstrated precisely why Howe had been so keen to bring him to St. James’ Park.
For a crucial three-minute spell before half-time, Newcastle simply could not contain the French forward. He netted twice, not only cancelling out Anthony Gordon’s opener but also, in essence, extinguishing Newcastle’s spirit and the game itself. The fact that Howe’s side had been the superior team up to that point became irrelevant. This is the devastating impact of a ruthless marksman, and it underscored why Newcastle had targeted Ekitike as a potential replacement for Isak even before the Swede’s eventual move to Liverpool.
Ultimately, Newcastle invested nearly the entirety of the £125 million received for Isak into acquiring Nick Woltemade and Yoane Wissa, both of whom were absent from the starting lineup at Anfield. While this strategy had shown promise, it faltered the moment Ekitike took centre stage. “He is someone we are going to have to do really, really well against,” Howe had cautioned. On this occasion, his team failed to heed their own warning.
For Liverpool manager Arne Slot, this victory marked a significant milestone – his side’s first win from a losing position this season. The triumph was further embellished by Florian Wirtz’s sixth goal in his last 10 appearances in the second half. While Isak remains a spectator, the contributions of his fellow summer arrivals are proving instrumental in unlocking Liverpool’s campaign.
Both Slot and Howe have found themselves navigating choppy waters of late, with a vocal minority of supporters, armed with keyboards rather than compelling arguments, calling for change in the dugout. In Slot’s case, such sentiment overlooks the triumph of the previous season and fails to acknowledge the emotional toll of the summer and the tragic passing of Diogo Jota. He deserves time, at least this season, to process these events and integrate new personnel.
Howe’s situation presents parallels. While his summer was not marred by tragedy, he and his team are still grappling with the void left by Isak’s departure. He has alluded to the possibility that, after four years at the helm, some fans may have grown weary. This weariness, however, can easily morph into complacency – the misguided belief that a new manager would magically resolve the existing issues within a squad and a season of transition.
Match Facts
Liverpool (4-2-3-1):
Alisson 7; Szoboszlai 7, Konate 7, Van Dijk 7, Kerkez 6.5; Gravenberch 7, Mac Allister 6.5; Salah 6, Wirtz 7.5, Gakpo 6; Ekitike 8
Subs: Mamardashvili, Endo, Chiesa, Jones, Robertson, Nyoni, Ramsay, Ngumoha, Nallo
Manager: Arne Slot 6.5
Newcastle (4-3-3):
Pope 6; Trippier 5.5, Thiaw 5.5, Burn 6, Hall 7; Ramsey 6, Tonali 6.5, Willock 7 (Woltemade 72); Elanga 6 (Murphy 72), Gordon 7.5, Barnes 6.5 (Wissa 72)
Subs: Ramsdale, A Murphy, Shahar, Botman, Miley, J Murphy, Wissa, Osula, Woltemade
Manager: Eddie Howe 6.5
Referee: Simon Hooper 7
Despite the historical odds, Newcastle ventured to Anfield with a semblance of hope, a rarity given their last league win there dates back to 1994. This belief was seemingly bolstered by the energy and spirit displayed in their midweek 1-1 draw against Paris Saint-Germain. However, Howe’s decision to deploy Gordon as the central striker ahead of Woltemade and Wissa drew criticism from the travelling faithful. With Gordon leading the line this season, Newcastle had yet to secure a victory and had managed only a single goal in five matches.
Nevertheless, Gordon proved to be a disruptive force through the middle, as Newcastle initially refused to allow Liverpool any breathing room, showcasing intent and intensity in the opening stages. Harvey Barnes had already rattled the post with a free-kick before Newcastle took a deserved lead in the 36th minute. Gordon, who had expressed bewilderment in Paris about his inability to score from open play in the Premier League over the past year while being prolific in the Champions League, found his answer. He drilled a low shot across Alisson, finding the net in front of The Kop. This goal, at least for a period, seemed to accurately reflect the balance of play.
However, by half-time, Liverpool had turned the game on its head. Ekitike’s first goal was a display of pure instinct, while his second showcased opportunistic brilliance. The equaliser, in the 41st minute, was largely facilitated by the industrious efforts of Wirtz, who muscled his way between two defenders before squaring the ball to the six-yard box. Ekitike, with a single touch, steered it beyond Nick Pope.
Just two minutes later, with Malick Thiaw seemingly inviting him to shoot from what he perceived as a tight angle, Ekitike responded emphatically, finding the bottom corner. The mood at Anfield shifted from frustrated groans to a unified chorus chanting the name of the player who had irrevocably altered the game. He is, perhaps more than any other individual on the pitch, the player who could truly transform Liverpool’s season.
Mohamed Salah then set up Wirtz for a well-taken finish in the 67th minute. A poignant moment also arrived in stoppage time when Ibrahima Konate scored from close range in his first match back since the passing of his father, bringing tears to his eyes. Howe, witnessing the decisive contribution of the player he had pursued for so long, must have felt a similar urge to shed a tear, albeit for entirely different reasons.
