Liverpool have taken one step towards turning their season around with a big win over Newcastle United.
The Reds were winless in five Premier League matches prior to kick-off, with the majority of their good form coming in Europe.
However, Liverpool beat Newcastle United 4-1 to keep pace with the Champions League-challenging sides, such as Chelsea and Manchester United.
How many goals will Hugo Ekitike end up with this season?
He's surely heading past 20
Florian Wirtz continues to impress on home soil, bagging yet another goal at Anfield.
But the star of the show was, of course, Hugo Ekitike, who netted a brace in the first half of Saturday’s fixture.
Hugo Ekitike on course to prove Owen Hargreaves was right
After the summer transfer window closed, there was likely an expectation that Ekitike would play second fiddle to Alexander Isak.
The Swede arrived on Deadline Day for a British record fee after several fine seasons at Newcastle.
However, Isak has been hampered by injury and form issues, allowing his French counterpart to step up and thrive.
Speaking back in August, former England international Owen Hargreaves said he was backing Ekitike for a 20-goal season and suggested people would be shocked by how good the centre-forward is.
He said: “He’ll [Ekitike] be a French international very soon and it’s amazing he wants to take on a challenge like this. Obviously, he went to PSG and it didn’t really work out, but I think now he’s ready for this.
“I think he can score 20 goals, easy. I think in the end, people are going to be shocked by how talented this kid is.”
Well, we are only just entering February, and after scoring twice against Newcastle, Ekitike is now sitting on 15 goals for Liverpool.
Livepool scored four brilliant goals against Newcastle, but which was your favourite?
Hugo Ekitike compared to Erling Haaland
Eddie Howe praised Ekitike for his efforts on the night, but he wasn’t the only one.
Joe Cole covered the Newcastle clash as a pundit for TNT Sports and also spoke highly of the ex-Eintracht Frankfurt man.
He said: “Ekitike’s a brilliant watch. The goals are there but he’s one of those players who excite you. There’s not many in the Premier League that have that power.
“Haaland is one, when he’s one-on-one, he’ll breeze past you. He’s one of the players I look forward to watching. He’s going to be brilliant.”
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