Liverpool wobbled again without Mohamed Salah - who was named on the bench - during a trip to Leeds, with the points being shared in a six-goal thriller. Ao Tanaka snatched a stoppage-time equaliser for the hosts in a 3-3 draw at Elland Road after Hugo Ekitike had earlier bagged a quick-fire brace for the Reds. Leeds had remarkably battled back from two down before Dominik Szoboszlai fired the Reds back in front and looked to have won the game, only for there to be an even later sting in the tail that cost Arne Slot's side dearly.
Ex-England, Chelsea and Manchester City winger Sean Wright-Phillips has given his verdict on Liverpool's struggles this season, claiming it was a mistake to allow Luis Diaz leave for Bayern Munich without a like-for-like replacement. The Colombian completed a £65.5m ($87m) transfer to the Bavarian giants in the summer, with the Reds acquiring central attackers in Hugo Ekitike and Alexander Isak.
Beleaguered Liverpool boss Arne Slot has finally been able to share some good news with an injury update on three key players ahead of the Premier League clash with West Ham. The Reds have lost nine of their last 12 games, putting Slot under massive pressure, but the Dutchman has delivered positive updates on key stars Florian Wirtz, Allison and Hugo Ekitike.
Liverpool suffered yet another setback as Arne Slot confirmed that Hugo Ekitike was forced off with a back injury during the Champions League defeat to PSV, raising fresh concerns for the struggling Reds. The French forward felt discomfort early in the game before being withdrawn just after the hour mark, leaving Slot frustrated as his side’s pressing collapsed and their poor run continued.
Liverpool have been hit by more problems after suffering yet another defeat, going down 4-1 to PSV at Anfield in the Champions League. The loss continues a dreadful run of form for Arne Slot's side and will raise more questions about the Dutchman's position at the club. Slot also lost one of his new signings to injury on another difficult night for the Reds.
Liverpool's British record signing Alexander Isak has been warned he must fight for his place after former World Cup winner Frank Leboeuf insisted Hugo Ekitike is the only striker who deserves to start under Arne Slot right now. The Frenchman believes Isak's fitness and form issues mean the £125 million star cannot be guaranteed the starting role ahead of his in-form team-mate.
A Kylian Mbappe-less France secured a comeback, 3-1 win over a plucky Azerbaijan to end their World Cup qualifying campaign on a high. Didier Deschamps made 11 changes from the team that thumped Ukraine 4-0 in midweek, and early on they appeared to miss their biggest stars.
Kylian Mbappe scored a brace and Hugo Ekitike opened his international account as France cruised past Ukraine to secure qualification for the 2026 World Cup. Les Bleus stuttered in the first half, but an outstanding display in the final 35 minutes ripped apart Ukraine's feeble resistance. Didier Deschamps' men have had a near-flawless qualifying campaign as they have won four and drawn one of their games to rack up 13 points from a possible 15.
Liverpool’s attacking puzzle under Arne Slot has taken a new twist as Dwight Yorke claims £116 million summer signing Florian Wirtz is blocking the club’s best tactical solution. The Manchester United legend believes Alexander Isak and Hugo Ekitike can replicate his iconic partnership with Andy Cole — but only if Slot is brave enough to play them together.
Liverpool manager Arne Slot quipped after Sunday's 3-0 loss at Manchester City that the very best time to judge a team is at the end of the season. "The next best time," the Dutchman argued, "is after 19 games, because then you've all faced the same opponents." However, we don't really need to wait until the halfway point of the Premier League campaign to determine whether Liverpool are capable of retaining their title. The Reds' race is already run after five dreadful defeats in 11 games.
Ibrahima Konate has revealed the cheeky motivational message he sent to new Liverpool teammate Hugo Ekitike after the French striker joined in a £79 million summer move from Eintracht Frankfurt. The defender admitted to giving the 23-year-old a “hard time” during training sessions as he pushed him to prove his worth at both club and international level.
Hugo Ekitike has revealed the inner workings of his relationship with Liverpool boss Arne Slot, admitting that the Dutchman's high standards have left him "p*ssed off" at times. The 23-year-old made the comments in a sit-down interview ahead of the Reds' marquee clash with Manchester City, where he also shot down suggestions that he and Aleksander Isak cannot play together in the same team.
Hugo Ekitike has revealed he has modelled elements of his game on his former PSG teammates Lionel Messi, Neymar and Kylian Mbappe as he looks to forge his own legend after making the switch to Liverpool earlier this year. The Frenchman spent a season on loan in the French capital during Les Parisiens' Galacticos era, before finding his feet in Germany with Eintracht Frankfurt.
Jamie Carragher remains unconvinced that Liverpool needed to sign two strikers during a summer of historic spending at Anfield. The Reds invested heavily in Hugo Ekitike, before then smashing the British transfer record on £125 million ($164m) superstar Alexander Isak. Arne Slot has to find minutes for both forwards when they are fit, with Carragher admitting that his “mind boggles” when it comes to that selection conundrum.
Alan Shearer has risked the wrath of Alexander Isak by insisting Hugo Ekitike should be viewed as Liverpool’s first choice striker. The Newcastle legend was an outspoken critic of the Sweden international’s behaviour over the summer as he went on strike in order to force through his £125 million (€144.5m/$169m) British record transfer to Arne Slot’s side.
Liverpool’s class of 2025 have earned an unfavourable comparison to the Paris Saint-Germain team that once boasted Lionel Messi, Neymar and Kylian Mbappe. The Reds have assembled a star-studded cast of their own at Anfield, splashing out £240 million ($320m) on deals for Alexander Isak and Florian Wirtz, but are still waiting for their fearsome attacking unit to click.
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