Red hot Ekitike needed a push to reach top gear
Hugo Ekitike has been in red-hot form in the Premier League in recent weeks, but Arne Slot said it took some persuading the young Frenchman to reach this level.
The striker has scored five goals in his past four matches, including braces against Brighton and Hove Albion and Leeds United, having only managed three goals in his 17 outings previously.
Across all competitions in 2025-2026, only Erling Haaland (23) has struck more non-penalty goals amongst Premier League players than Ekitike (11).
The Frenchman scored in his first three appearances in all competitions for Liverpool after his move from Eintracht Frankfurt, but the club's stuttering form combined with the arrival of big-money signing Alexander Isak saw him drop off slightly.
However, he is currently Liverpool's top scorer this season.
With Isak sidelined with a fractured leg and Mohamed Salah away at the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), Ekitike will be expected to continue to step up, but Slot admitted he had to be persuaded.
"He showed a lot of hard work to get to this fitness level where he is at the moment," Slot said.
"It sometimes took us – me – a bit of convincing that this all is actually needed to become stronger, but he always did it, not always with a smile on his face, but he has worked really hard to get fitter on and off the pitch.
"I've tried to convince him as well. The better you defend a set-piece, the bigger chance you have to score at the other end, because if you are 0-0, it is easier to score a goal than if you are 1-0 down.
"It may sound strange, but it is what it does with the energy levels of the other team. For us and him to score goals, it is important we don't concede from set-pieces.
"He is ready to go into the programme we are facing now, but he is not the only No. 9 I have. Federico Chiesa can play in that position as well."
Liverpool faces bottom-of-the-table Wolverhampton Wanderers on Sunday (AEDT) on the back of a six-game unbeaten run in all competitions, including four wins and two draws.
Should Ekitike score in that game, he could become the first Liverpool player, other than Salah, to score in four consecutive Premier League outings since Sadio Mane in February 2019.
