Eddie Howe Tips Liverpool’s Hugo Ekitike to Shine in Premier League

Newcastle United manager, Eddie Howe, has tipped Liverpool striker Hugo Ekitike to be one of the standout attacking threats in the Premier League this season.

Speaking ahead of Newcastle’s crunch clash with the reigning champions at St James’ Park on Monday, Howe admitted his admiration for the 23-year-old French forward, who joined Liverpool from Eintracht Frankfurt this summer.

Newcastle had themselves considered Ekitike as a potential replacement for Alexander Isak earlier in the transfer window, but the forward instead opted for Anfield, where he has already hit the ground running—scoring on his debut in Liverpool’s 4-2 win over Bournemouth.

“I think there is no doubting that I really like Hugo and have done for a number of years,” Howe said.
“He is someone we have tracked for a long time. He is intelligent, and he’s got a load of qualities that will serve him really well in the Premier League. Our job will be to keep him quiet and try to control him, but certainly he is going to be a threat this year.”

Opinion

Howe’s words reflect not just respect but also a hint of “what could have been” for Newcastle. Ekitike is exactly the type of striker Newcastle fans would have embraced—young, technical, and with a knack for scoring at decisive moments. Instead, they’ll now have to watch him in the colours of Liverpool, a team already stacked with attacking brilliance.

Ekitike’s swift adaptation to life in England after just one game is an ominous sign for defenders across the league. If he continues with this momentum, he could quickly establish himself as one of the headline names of the season—perhaps even the missing piece to sustain Liverpool’s dominance after their title-winning campaign.

For Newcastle, Monday’s showdown will not just be about trying to stop the champions; it will be about silencing a striker who might have been wearing black-and-white stripes instead of Liverpool red. And in football, those “what if” stories often make the encounters even more tantalizing.