'ekitike Is Instant Anfield Hero But Defence Brutally Exposed'

Hugo Ekitike was Liverpool's header enactment connected a nighttime of axenic theatre astatine Anfield which was precocious connected emotion and rich | successful thrilling drama, but was besides played retired nether nan protector of allegations of racist abuse.

Ekitike mightiness look a early conflict for his spot only weeks aft making a £70m from Eintracht Frankfurt, pinch Newcastle United rebel Alexander Isak still connected Liverpool's schedule - but he stated his lawsuit eloquently pinch a superb individual show that made him an instant leader connected The Kop.

Liverpool's 4-2 win, secured pinch precocious goals from Federico Chiesa and Mohamed Salah, was packed pinch sub-plots - not each of them good. Indeed, nan scoreline hardly touches nan sides of a chaotic night.

It each started pinch affectional tributes to Diogo Jota, nan Liverpool striker killed successful a car clang successful July, on pinch his relative Andre Silva.

The Kop was adorned pinch banners paying tribute to Jota, including 1 for his family reading: 'Anfield will ever beryllium your home. You'll Never Walk Alone' earlier a minute's silence.

Jota was remembered successful opus throughout, pinch a rousing infinitesimal of applause aft 20 minutes for nan beloved striker who wore nan number 20 shirt.

It was a nighttime erstwhile Liverpool's costly modulation was connected display, pinch 4 Premier League newcomers including Ekitike and Florian Wirtz, arsenic good arsenic full-back brace Jeremie Frimpong and Milos Kerkez.

The standard of alteration is illustrated by nan truth that, excluding nan inaugural 1992-93 season, Liverpool are nan first reigning champions to sanction arsenic galore arsenic 4 Premier League debutants successful their opening-day starting line-up.

Ekitike was nan champion of that quartet by a distance, throwing up a conundrum astir how caput coach Arne Slot will adapt should Liverpool return to Tyneside pinch a bid person to nan striker Newcastle complaint astatine £150m.

Slot has hardly utilized a onslaught pairing since he arrived astatine Liverpool, truthful it would beryllium a alteration of cogwheel to harvester Ekitike and Isak should nan second arrive.

It whitethorn not rather request nan mobility of whether Liverpool really request to make specified a lavish outlay connected different striker, but it will springiness Slot a conundrum to solve.

For now, Slot tin revel successful nan talent of Ekitike, who added to his Community Shield extremity against Crystal Palace pinch a vibrant capacity present - not only breaking nan deadlock pinch a composed first-half decorativeness but besides creating a 2nd for Cody Gakpo.

Ekitike could person had a hat-trick, missing 2 presentable headed chances, but this was a capacity rich | successful committedness that suggests he is simply a Premier League-ready striker, irrespective of further Liverpool transportation activity.

The calm mode of his decorativeness and smart nexus play was a acold outcry from nan frenetic attack of nan now departed 'Captain Chaos' Darwin Nunez. Indeed, he is only nan 2nd subordinate to some people and assistance a extremity connected his Premier League debut for Liverpool - aft nan Uruguayan against Fulham successful August 2022.

Ekitike made a '20' motion successful honour of Jota aft scoring, while Salah replicated nan beloved Portuguese's trademark shark ceremony aft he wrapped up nan win.

If Ekitike was nan highlight, nan protect vulnerability that troubled Liverpool successful pre-season and successful nan Community Shield was brutally exposed erstwhile much by Bournemouth's excellence.

The absence of nan suspended Ryan Gravenberch near gaping holes successful Liverpool's midfield, while nan attacking attack of caller full-back pairing Frimpong and Kerkez near abstraction connected nan flanks to beryllium exploited.

Liverpool's weakness was punished by Bournemouth's 2nd goal, a good equaliser from Antoine Semenyo that near Anfield surviving connected its nerves - a extremity of individual ambition but 1 of interest for nan reigning Premier League champions.

Salah mislaid nan shot connected nan separator of Bournemouth's punishment area, Semenyo subsequently racing unchallenged for 50 yards - Virgil van Dijk and Ibrahima Konate simply onlookers earlier he coolly recovered nan bottommost corner.

Slot brought a calm, methodical attack to Liverpool's crippled past play pursuing nan magnificent chaos of Jurgen Klopp's reign, but this was a throwback summed up by that granstand finish.

It was besides an denotation that a equilibrium must beryllium achieved betwixt nan players who won nan title past play and nan integration of £300m worthy of caller acquisitions.

Sadly, a nighttime of superb shot intermezo was marred by alleged racist maltreatment towards Semenyo successful nan first half by a personnel of nan crowd. Referee Anthony Taylor halted nan crippled arsenic it was reported to him.

Semenyo's consequence was a superb capacity that almost earned nan Cherries a point, but erstwhile again racism reared its disfigured caput and was wide condemned.

Liverpool earned nan win, but this was an almighty scare which acted arsenic confirmation that Slot whitethorn look immoderate early bumps successful nan roadworthy aft past season's stroll to nan title.

For Ekitike, however, this was nan cleanable start.