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Football Insider

Hugo Ekitike's Humble Response to Steven Gerrard's Comparison to Fernando Torres

Following a stellar performance in Liverpool's recent match against Newcastle, Hugo Ekitike remains grounded despite being likened to former Liverpool striker Fernando Torres by club legend Steven Gerrard.

Hugo Ekitike's Humble Response to Steven Gerrard's Comparison to Fernando Torres

Hugo Ekitike has insisted he will 'have to keep working' if he is to live up to iconic former Liverpool strikers such as Fernando Torres. The Frenchman scored twice in Saturday's 4-1 win at home to Newcastle, prompting club legend Steven Gerrard to compare the forward to one of his former team-mates.Ekitike scored Liverpool's first two goals in their win against Newcastle. After Anthony Gordon had given the visitors the lead, the Frenchman slid in an equaliser after Florian Wirtz wriggled his way past several defenders and pulled a low cross back into the danger zone. Shortly after, Ekitike spearheaded a fast and direct move straight from an Alisson Becker goal kick after some quick thinking from a pitch-side ball boy, with the eventually skipping past a sleeping Newcastle defence and poking in his second of the evening.Second-half strikes from Wirtz and the returning Ibrahima Konate capped off a huge victory for Liverpool, who were beaten 3-2 in the last minute at Bournemouth last week but have responded well in recent days, finishing third in the Champions League group phase after hammering Qarabag 6-0.While on punditry duty for TNT Sports, Gerrard dared to compare Ekitike to former Anfield favourite Torres, who scored 81 goals in 142 games for Liverpool between 2007 and 2011."It's Torres-like. He just gets it out of his feet and it's that toe poke. He reminds me of Torres, this player, every time I watch him," Gerrard said. "He's scoring similar types of goals, where if you give him space in the channel, he'll run it, he's too quick, you can't catch him and he's deadly."There are a lot of similarities, pace, power, you can score, you can assist."These comments were then put to Ekitike, who admitted that he wasn't able to watch Torres' Liverpool teams as a youngster but is aware of the striker's legacy. Ekitike responded: "Back in the day, I couldn’t watch the Premier League to be honest, my mum didn't pay so I couldn't see! I have watched some clips of YouTube. I will never put myself on that bracket. He was an incredible player. If I reach his level it would be great. I have to keep working."Looking for smarter football bets? Get expert previews, data-driven predictions & winning insights with GOAL Tips on Telegram. Join our growing community now!Ekitike is now up to 15 goals in all competitions for Liverpool since joining from Eintracht Frankfurt last summer. He was also asked if he had a target in mind for his end-of-season tally, to which he replied: "It's a hard question, obviously I want to score a lot of goals, I'd love to be the top scorer of the club but I don't think of a certain number, I just want to be involved in helping the team to win. I also love to give assists, like to Flo. We came here with confidence. but I think tonight was also about team spirit. Everybody tonight was running everywhere."Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reportingSaturday's victory moved Liverpool back up to fifth in the Premier League table, sitting one point behind Chelsea and one ahead of Manchester United prior to their game against Fulham on Sunday. Next up for the Reds is a mouth-watering clash against Manchester City next weekend at Anfield.

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Hugo Ekitike's Standout Performance Against Newcastle

In the thrilling 4-1 victory over Newcastle, Hugo Ekitike shone brightly by scoring two crucial goals for Liverpool. His efforts helped secure a decisive win for the team, with goals showcasing his skill and composure in front of goal.

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Steven Gerrard's Comparisons to Fernando Torres

During his punditry duty for TNT Sports, Steven Gerrard drew parallels between Hugo Ekitike's playing style and that of former Liverpool striker Fernando Torres. Gerrard praised Ekitike's pace, power, and clinical finishing, likening him to the iconic Torres.

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Ekitike's Modest Response

When asked about Gerrard's comparison to Torres, Hugo Ekitike humbly acknowledged the praise but emphasized his need to continue working hard to reach the level of the legendary striker. Despite not being able to watch Torres play live, Ekitike remains focused on his own development and contribution to the team.

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Ekitike's Season Goals and Team Focus

With 15 goals already to his name this season, Ekitike expressed his desire to contribute both through scoring and assisting his teammates. He remains focused on team success and is determined to help Liverpool achieve their objectives throughout the season.

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Liverpool's Ascent in the Premier League

Liverpool's victory over Newcastle propelled them back into the top five of the Premier League standings, setting up an exciting clash against Manchester City in the upcoming fixture. With Ekitike's form and the team's collective spirit, Liverpool fans have reasons to be optimistic about the future.

Published on Feb 1, 2026