Liverpool fans were left frustrated after watching new signing Hugo Ekitike make his debut against Japanese club Yokohama F. Marinos.
Following weeks of speculation linking the Eintracht Frankfurt striker to the Reds, Ekitike finally sealed a move to Anfield last week. The transfer is reported to be worth up to £79 million, with the 23-year-old joining Liverpool’s pre-season tour in Asia soon after.
After impressive training clips circulated online, anticipation was high as Ekitike featured in his first match at the Nissan Stadium. However, fans expressed disappointment after his first 45 minutes in a Liverpool shirt, turning to social media to voice a common concern.
With the score still 0-0 at halftime, Ekitike was subbed off for Darwin Núñez, cutting short his debut appearance. Fan opinions on his performance were divided—some saw potential in the French striker, while others were less impressed.
Still, one point united the fanbase: widespread criticism of the poor pitch conditions. Many believed the subpar playing surface negatively affected Ekitike’s performance—and that of the entire team.
One fan posted on X: “This pitch has completely ruined the Ekitike/Wirtz watch.” Another added: “I’m not judging Ekitike today because of the pitch.”
While a supporter who backed Ekitike wrote: “He’s a great fit for Liverpool. The pitch was dreadful, making it hard to judge the players fairly.”
On the other hand, a more skeptical fan called for the signing of Newcastle’s Alexander Isak, sarcastically commenting: “They’re blaming the pitch for Ekitike not scoring—just give me Isak, thanks.”
Despite Newcastle’s insistence that Isak isn’t for sale, reports suggest Liverpool are preparing a record-breaking bid, with the Swedish forward allegedly pushing for the transfer.
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