Hugo Ekitike Torments Newcastle: Torres-Like Brace Inspires Liverpool Comeback in Premier League Clash

Hugo Ekitike delivered a devastating reminder of what Newcastle United missed out on, scoring twice to inspire Liverpool’s 4-1 Premier League victory at Anfield. The 23-year-old French forward, who Newcastle pursued on three occasions before Liverpool secured his signature in summer 2025, haunted his long-term admirers with a clinical double that flipped the match. His goals— a poacher’s finish and a Fernando Torres-esque strike—silenced Anthony Gordon’s early opener and propelled the champions toward a crucial win amid their title defence.

Ekitike’s impact was immediate and profound. Newcastle struck first through Gordon in the 36th minute, the forward defiantly gesturing to the Kop. Yet Ekitike responded swiftly, equalising with instinctive finishing before half-time and then producing a standout second: latching onto Milos Kerkez’s precise pass down the left channel, outpacing Malick Thiaw, and slotting home with composure. The goal evoked memories of Torres’ debut strike against Chelsea in 2007, prompting Steven Gerrard—Torres’ former partner—to note on TNT Sports: “It is Torres-like… He gets it out of his feet and that toe-poke.”

Manager Arne Slot beamed post-match: “The fans love him. From the start, everyone could see how special he is, how fast he is.” Ekitike’s 15 goals this season underline his adaptation, making him the youngest Liverpool player to reach double figures in a league campaign since Michael Owen in 2000/01.

Ekitike’s Goal-Scoring Record at Liverpool

Season/Metric	Goals	Assists	Key Notes
2025/26 (Current)	15	Varies	Standout against former suitors Newcastle
Partnership with Wirtz	6 combined goals	–	Most of any Premier League duo

Ekitike’s partnership with Florian Wirtz sparkles, yielding six goal combinations across competitions—tops in the league. Slot explained delays in unleashing them together due to intensity demands every three days, but recent form shows synergy: “They are getting closer… the numbers are going up.”

Newcastle’s regret runs deep. The Magpies first targeted Ekitike in January 2022 from Reims, then summer 2022 (when he chose PSG), and again in 2025—only for Liverpool to win the race, also signing Alexander Isak from them. Eddie Howe admitted: “Ekitike is an outstanding player… He’s got a little bit of everything—tall, quick, can finish.” Club legend Shay Given told Match of the Day: “It hurts me from a Newcastle point of view… He could be wearing a black-and-white shirt. He is brilliant at stretching defences.”

Born in 2002, Ekitike’s rapid rise began with Reims breakthroughs, leading to PSG and a Frankfurt loan before Liverpool. His height, speed, and finishing blend power with precision, stretching defences as Given noted.

This performance exemplified Ekitike’s Premier League fit—thriving in transitions and channels, qualities Newcastle scouted extensively. For Liverpool, he embodies Slot’s vision: dynamic, clinical, and increasingly integral.

As the title race intensifies, Ekitike’s Torres-like traits and Wirtz synergy position him as a defining figure. Newcastle’s missed opportunities sting, but Liverpool revel in a forward realising his potential at Anfield.

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