Davis: “So much to like about Hugo Ekitike” – Liverpool debut dissected | OneFootball

Hugo Ekitike Stakes His Claim in Liverpool v Bournemouth Opener

Debut Goal and Assist Make Their Mark

Liverpool’s 4–2 win over Bournemouth at Anfield offered a glimpse into the Arne Slot era. With four new signings in the starting eleven, attention naturally turned to debutants. But none stood out more than Hugo Ekitike. On the Positional Play podcast for Anfield Index, Dave Davis and Dr Phil Barter unpacked his performance in forensic detail.

“He gets a goal and assist on his debut,” said Davis. “You saw it in the Kop, the work rate more than anything, the intelligence.” For Davis, it was a rounded showing that highlighted more than attacking output. “If I was to draw his heatmap, I could be dragging this kid everywhere. He dropped deep to link, he had touches, the finish is great.”

The statistics supported the eye test. Dr Phil Barter outlined one key figure: “He received 21 passes and didn’t let any of them go – 100% receiving rate.” That level of ball retention under pressure, especially in an opening fixture, stood out.

Performance in Numbers

Ekitike finished the match with four shots, two on target. Barter noted, “Shot accuracy 50%. One skied, which reduced his shot quality, but he made two key passes.” His involvement in forward play was constant and confident. “Nine carries, 22% of them progressive,” Barter added, explaining that progressive carries had to exceed 20 metres in their tracking metrics.

More than numbers, his presence on the pitch caught attention. Davis pointed out the psychological element, saying, “Opening day, 60-odd thousand people, pressure on you… and he just goes, ‘Yeah, do you know what? I’ll put it in there. Thanks. Cheers. That’s one-nil.’”

Barter also compared him to his predecessor in the No. 9 role. “We’ve got used to the previous number nine getting to that position and smashing it over the bar.” Ekitike’s composure in those moments contrasted sharply with what Liverpool fans had grown used to.

Links in Attack

The chemistry with attacking teammates was another theme picked up by Barter. “He links with Flo, he links with Mo better in this game, which was something people worried about in the Community Shield.” That cohesion was reflected in his assist for Cody Gakpo’s goal, a moment Davis felt underscored his growing understanding of Slot’s system.

Still, limitations were acknowledged. “I’d love him to play 90 minutes,” said Barter, “but he just clearly isn’t fit enough to do that yet.” Even with that, the verdict was favourable. “I thought his involvement with the team in terms of build-up was really good.”

“There just seems so much to like about Hugo Ekitike,” Davis added.

Man of the Match Conversation

While opinions vary, Ekitike was very much in the conversation for Man of the Match. “Good performance, man of the match might be slightly maybe,” Barter said, reflecting on the broader contribution of the 22-year-old forward. “But as a kid, opening day, maybe that’s why they went for him.”

Davis added, “He’s going to be a key part of this team and crucial to us at certain points.” The impact was felt not just in goals and assists, but in tone, intent and effort.

In a match where individual quality took precedence over team synchronicity, Hugo Ekitike delivered on multiple fronts. If this is the benchmark, Liverpool may have found a forward capable of growing into a defining role under Slot.