28 Jun 2025 08:38:45
Morning Reds and Eds. Anyone seen anything much of Etikite play?
28 Jun 2025 09:06:19
I started watching Franfurt matches near the end of the season just to look at him.
The reason was that in terms of stats, style and physique he was the closest match to Isak.
As others have said on here before, he does take a lot of shots (some from speculative angles) and he should have scored more according to his XG stats.
What I do really like about him though is his movement is excellent, drifting mainly into the left channel, and his assists are impressive for a CF meaning he creates space and opportunity for his fellow forwards.
He is fairly quick, has wonderful dribbling skills, and while he's missing chances, he's also getting the chances.
The money Frankfurt are asking is excessive off the back of one good season, but if we can drive a deal towards what we receive for Diaz, I think Ekitike would really suit how we play under Slot.
Only my opinion though.
28 Jun 2025 09:17:27
Good you’ve been keeping an eye on him Redman! He’s always been rated and I guess it’s whether, apart from whether he’d suit us with the way he plays, he can take the step up and also handle the physical side of things in the PL.
28 Jun 2025 09:21:43
I wrote extensively on what I think of Ekitike after watching him a bunch with Eintracht this year. Others have also weighed in on what they think. Please do a search.
28 Jun 2025 09:36:53
So basically he’s Darwin, gets chances but can’t score?
28 Jun 2025 10:51:47
He's not even Darwin, hard pass for me, specially at the stupid unrealistic 100 million € they want, the better player went for 75 million € in January! Make that make sense.
28 Jun 2025 11:02:45
His movement and build up play is far superior to Darwins though.
I think he has the highest G/ A of any player 23 and under in the top 5 leagues.
There is a lack of proven strikers around atm, and the few who are proven have ridiculous price tags, or simply aren't available.
28 Jun 2025 11:04:57
Sounds just like Scouse John said : Gakpo v2.0
I like Gakpo, but we don’t need another.
28 Jun 2025 12:16:46
I appreciate it's only a stat test, and not a visual test, but go to a website called FBREF and look at Isak and Ekitike.
They are very similar in every category.
Even their G/ A per minute is very similar.
28 Jun 2025 12:20:15
I'm not sure what gakpo 2.0 is supposed to mean? Gakpo has been a great success for us, if we got a number 9 who is the equivalent in a different position then what exactly is the problem?
28 Jun 2025 12:28:42
Also I beg to differ on ekitike's movement being superior to Darwin's. They are simply completely different players. Darwin loves running in behind, ekitike loves coming short, getting the ball to feet and running at defenders. I think ekitike is ball dominant, whereas Darwin is not. I don't like the narrative that anybody is an upgrade on darwin, Darwin had 31 goal involvements in 54 games in klopp's last season, was among the most productive forwards in Europe as far as getting in goalscoring positions and vastly underperformed his xg. He is not the right player for us anymore but he also isn't a static donkey.
28 Jun 2025 13:03:51
It’s just not in the dna of modern Liverpool to play with a target man striker. All our best football has been with more of a technical player: Firmino, mane in 21/ 22 when Diaz came in, sturridge and Suarez. The one they all have in common is they are good in the ball. Not the biggest or strongest, some not even the fastest, but all have a good first touch and are very comfortable on the ball. If you’re playing inside forwards who get goals you want to make sure they’re involved.
28 Jun 2025 13:38:15
Seen him play against spurs. He was ok. The is definitely potential there but he has a ways to go. One of those that could be something special but could equally turn out average. It would be a risk to pay anywhere even close to the asking price mooted for him.
At the end of the day, if we end up getting him, I can't say for sure how it would go.
The thing I like most about him is that he does a bit of everything play make, come short, run in behind, headers. This is the style of striker I would want.
He really is a tough one to call.
28 Jun 2025 13:46:12
I don't remember anyone saying he was a static donkey.
Football is all about preference, and my preference is for the way Ekitike plays rather than Darwin.
28 Jun 2025 14:10:50
Problem is when Darwin runs in behind he’s usually about at least 10 metres offside.
28 Jun 2025 15:16:02
You are of course entitled to your preference, but that doesn't mean that darwin's movement is worse, seen from a different perspective it is in fact better, but ultimately it is just different. I prefer a forward like Darwin who attacks space and constantly wants to get in behind (if he could be more clinical), but slot might want somebody who is more versatile and can excel in one on one situations or attack defenders with the ball at their feet.
28 Jun 2025 15:56:31
Patrick - I like Gakpo, but we have a Gakpo, we have a forward with the same characteristics.
Spending a lot of money on a player who offers more of the same seems foolish, just use Gakpo more.
28 Jun 2025 16:15:31
I personally don't find him to be very similar to gakpo, not sure if we're watching the same player.
28 Jun 2025 17:36:43
Klopp dropped Nunez towards the end of his last season.
Oh, he can run and run around a lot but his football intelligence was woeful.