Ekitike Fires Liverpool To Merseyside Derby Glory, Says ‘Win Was Important For The Fans’

Hugo Ekitike etched his name into Merseyside derby folklore with a crucial goal as Liverpool held on to defeat Everton 2-1 in a pulsating Premier League clash at Anfield on Saturday.

The summer signing from Eintracht Frankfurt clearly understood the significance of the fixture, and his performance reflected that understanding.

Ekitike, sporting the number 22 jersey, capped off a dominant first half for the Reds with a clinical, low finish to make it 2-0 after Ryan Gravenberch had opened the scoring with a stunning strike.

While Idrissa Gana Gueye pulled one back for Everton before the hour mark, Arne Slot’s men demonstrated resilience to secure all three points in the 247th meeting between the two sides.

Speaking to Liverpoolfc.com after the match, an elated Ekitike said, “Top. Top, top. Obviously, I knew that the game was really important for the fans, so a win today was important. I felt the stadium and the crowd were very loud today.”

He continued, “It’s a very proud feeling, a happy feeling. We just have to keep going. [It] was a good first half. When they came back, it was a bit difficult with the 2-1.

“But we just kept the right mentality until the end and I think that’s what made the difference at the end.”

The goal, his fourth since arriving at Anfield, further solidified his impact on the team. Ekitike expressed his desire to maintain his scoring form, stating, “I want to score every game, if you ask me.

“The last game I didn’t score but I always try to find a way to make the difference. It can be a goal, an assist, or a run to create space for another player.

“It’s good. At the end, the most important [thing] is the team and it’s the three points today.”

His early-season form has quickly resonated with the Anfield faithful, and chants of his name echoed around the stadium during the derby.

Ekitike expressed his appreciation for the support, saying, “It’s top, honestly I really like it. I said, every time I want it more loud. So, I will try to keep scoring for the fans.”

The victory marks Liverpool’s fifth consecutive Premier League win, adding to their impressive 3-2 Champions League triumph against Atletico Madrid earlier in the week.

However, Ekitike remains grounded, acknowledging the long season ahead.

“Football is moments, we can be happy today until tomorrow, and when we wake up, we have to go again,” he stated.

“We have on Tuesday a cup game and we just have to focus and keep going. Our schedule is busy, we just have games and we have to reach our goals all the time.”

With a busy schedule on the horizon, Liverpool will look to maintain their momentum and continue their pursuit of silverware across all competitions.

But for now, the victory over Everton, fueled by Ekitike’s contribution, provides a sweet taste of Merseyside derby glory.