Bad omen?! Ekitike follows in Nunez's footsteps on PL debut

 

Liverpool’s new signing Hugo Ekitike made a dream start to his Premier League career with a goal and an assist in his debut against Bournemouth on Friday night. The French striker, who joined from Eintracht Frankfurt in the summer, wasted little time making an impression, scoring the opening goal to calm early nerves for Arne Slot’s side. He later turned provider, sliding a clever pass to Cody Gakpo, who doubled Liverpool’s lead with a tidy finish. Ekitike had already scored in the Community Shield, but this was his first league outing for the Reds and he delivered in style under the Anfield lights. His contributions placed him in rare company, as only Darwin Núñez had previously scored and assisted in a Liverpool debut, back in 2022 against Fulham. Núñez ultimately failed to live up to expectations and left for Al-Hilal this summer, a fact that inevitably drew comparisons between the two strikers. But unlike Núñez, Ekitike looked composed and confident. He spoke after the match about wanting to improve further, stressing that he still has “so many things to do better” but that helping the team win was the most important part of his performance.

While Ekitike stole the headlines, Liverpool’s win over Bournemouth was far from straightforward. Antoine Semenyo twice struck for the visitors to keep the contest alive, showing that Slot’s new-look side will not have everything their own way this season. In the end, it took late goals from Federico Chiesa and Mohamed Salah to seal a dramatic 4-2 victory and ensure the Reds began the campaign with three points. The emotional backdrop to the match also played a role. Liverpool fans paid tribute to the late Diogo Jota, with touching scenes before kick-off and chants throughout the game. Ekitike acknowledged this in his post-match comments, dedicating the victory to the fans and to his late teammate, highlighting the strong spirit within the squad. The bigger picture for Liverpool is that they appear to have a promising new forward capable of producing on the biggest stage. Ekitike’s mix of movement, finishing, and vision suggests he could be a vital addition as Slot seeks to build on the team’s strong foundations. Next up, Liverpool face Newcastle United at St. James’ Park on August 25, a match that will serve as another test of Ekitike’s readiness for the relentless pace of the Premier League.

See also; Liverpool star Mohamed Salah made Premier League history on Friday night as he scored his 10th goal on an opening day fixture.