Hugo Ekitike's record as a left-winger is PHENOMENAL

Yahoo

6 days ago

Hugo Ekitike won't just be a forward for Liverpool, he can also play on the left-wing.
With the club's continued pursuit for Alexander Isak, there have been a few question marks over the Frenchman's arrival.
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Ekitike is predominantly a no.9. So, the question must be raised, how could Isak and Ekitike play together? And why go for Isak, when you already have Ekitike?
These are valid questions. Although, assessing Liverpool's attacking options, and the number of them who could leave, will give you an answer as to why Isak and Ekitike are both needed.
As for whether they can play together, the answer is simple: yes.
Neither of them are typical old-fashioned no.9s. They are dynamic players, who are fluid in their style of play. Isak, at the moment is more of a poacher (for now) but Ekitike can also thrive inside the box.
What he excels at is high linking-up play, creativity and his ability to take on defenders one vs one. Not to mention, he's a workhorse, who will continue to press his opponents.
All of these traits, make him into an unpredictable and formidable no.9. However, they can also make him into a left-winger.
Ekitike spoke about his style of play in his first official interview for the club, describing the following:
"I can't define myself only as a striker [who likes] to finish: I like to play, I like to be in the game, in the collective part of play [and] create also. So, I can do both - I can play alone and I like to play also with another striker," he said.
So how could this work? In theory, Ekitike could play in behind Isak. But then where would Florian Wirtz play?
Another option is for the Frenchman to drift out-wide onto the left flank. Where he has played before. Most notably, in his first season as a professional back at Vejle Boldklub in Denmark, Ekitike was often used as a left-winger.
In the games that he played as a left-winger, Ekitike made two assists in four games, and he also averaged 4.6 dribblers per 90 minutes completing 77.8% of his attempts.
Those are remarkable numbers, although it's a small sample size. Nonetheless, his managers at the time were certainly blown away.
Speaking of Ekitike to Anfield Watch former Vejle assistant manager Dumitru Uzunea likened the Frenchman to Johan Cruyff after his performances:
"After he played three or five games, if you look at him in training, his legs, his body I think you can compare him with the ex big player of Netherlands, Johan Cruyff."
Those are big comparisons and we are in no way insinuating that Ekitike should become as good as one of the most legendary figures in football.
However, the fact that a football professional has made those links would at least suggest that he could be suited to play on the wing.
Another big factor behind this could be that he had played as a left-winger at Reims, Paris Saint Germain and even in one game against RB Leipzig at Frankfurt in his career so far.
In those games, he's averaged 0.65 goal contributions, which is very good considering most of his minutes were for Reims and Vejle as a left-winger and both of those teams were fighting for relegation.