A video capturing Alexander Isak’s reaction to Hugo Ekitike’s goal in the Merseyside derby has surfaced online after Liverpool’s significant victory over Everton.
Liverpool secured a 2-1 win on Saturday, gaining not only three league points but also local bragging rights.
Ryan Gravenberch opened the scoring and later assisted Ekitike, who calmly finished inside the box to double Liverpool’s lead. Idrissa Gueye pulled one back for Everton, while Jack Grealish expressed frustration at the referee for applying a rule he claimed was unfamiliar to him.
For the derby, manager Arne Slot made several changes, dropping Florian Wirtz and Isak, both of whom had started in Liverpool’s recent Champions League match against Atletico Madrid. Slot chose Ekitike to lead the attack, and the French forward rewarded that confidence by scoring.
Isak was seen celebrating Ekitike’s goal while warming up on the sidelines. After the match, Ekitike told TNT Sports about competing with Isak for a starting place.
“He’s a very talented player,” Ekitike said of the Swede. “I’ve followed him even before joining the club, so having him here is great. I can learn from him and improve. It’s competitive, but I believe we’ll play together and make an impact. Hopefully, we’ll share the pitch one day.”
He added, “It’s the coach’s decision. I just focus on doing my job. It’s a positive situation.”
When asked if he had a tough choice regarding the lineup, Slot replied, “Not at all. I think both players are happy to be in the squad. In the long term, they might wonder about playing time, but they know it’s challenging to play full matches three times a week.”
“Hugo is 22 and adjusting from a different league to a higher level of intensity,” the Dutch manager explained.
“Alex isn’t ready yet to play full 90-minute games regularly, let alone two or three times a week. We’re working on getting him there, as long as he stays fit, which is a delicate balance.”
Slot continued, “It’s great to have two quality players. You can ask any manager in this league about having multiple players for the same position—two strikers, two No. 7s, two No. 11s. That’s part of what makes this league exciting because there are so many excellent players. And yes, we have two strong No. 9s, just like many other teams.”
Ekitike has scored four goals in seven appearances across all competitions this season.
Meanwhile, Isak has yet to score for Liverpool, having featured in two games since his record-breaking transfer from Newcastle United.
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