Ekitike Shines on Debut, but Slot Explains Second-Half Substitution Decision
Hugo Ekitike made a memorable first appearance for Liverpool, scoring within five minutes of Sunday’s Community Shield clash. His early goal—a superb curling effort past Dean Henderson—got the Reds off to a strong start against Crystal Palace. The 23-year-old, signed this summer from Eintracht Frankfurt, also showed good chemistry with fellow new arrival Florian Wirtz. However, some were surprised when Arne Slot opted to take him off in the 71st minute, especially with Liverpool leading 2-1.
After Ekitike’s exit, Palace equalised and later triumphed in a penalty shootout. The Frenchman’s clinical touch was notably missed as Liverpool failed to convert three of their spot-kicks.
Slot Breaks Down the Substitution Call
Speaking after the match, Slot praised Ekitike’s performance but clarified that the decision to sub him was based on long-term planning. With the Premier League opener against Bournemouth just days away and Liverpool short on attacking options, Slot said the move was about protecting the striker.
“He made a great impact, but he only joined us about two weeks ago, after the Asian tour,” Slot told liverpoolfc.com. “With just a few days before our league opener, it wouldn’t have been wise to play him the full 90 minutes. We do have Federico [Chiesa], but he also missed the tour, so our depth isn’t great at the moment.
“If Hugo were to pick up an injury now, that would put us in a tough spot for the upcoming games against Bournemouth, Newcastle, and Arsenal. So, I had to manage his minutes—but he definitely had a strong debut.”
Strategic Squad Management with Limited Depth
Slot’s remarks suggest he’d have liked to keep Ekitike on the pitch, given his impact, but with attacking options thin, he was clearly prioritising the broader season. Ekitike’s early performance at Wembley indicates he could be a vital asset, and until Liverpool reinforce their frontline, the club may need to lean heavily on him.
Interestingly, it was Alexis Mac Allister—not Chiesa—who came on for Ekitike, which could add to speculation about Chiesa’s future at the club. Should the Italian leave, Liverpool would be left with only three senior forwards: Ekitike, Mohamed Salah, and Cody Gakpo.
While promising youngsters like Rio Ngumoha, Ben Doak, and Jayden Danns have shown potential, Slot may hesitate to place too much responsibility on them. This could accelerate Liverpool’s pursuit of a striker, with Newcastle’s Alexander Isak reportedly on their radar.
Although fans might’ve hoped to see Ekitike complete the full match, Slot made a pragmatic decision with the long season in mind. Based on his Wembley display, the £69 million signing looks ready to play a key role in the months ahead.
Leave a Reply