UCL: Ekitike scores as Liverpool run riot against Frankfurt

Hugo Ekitike scored against his former club as Liverpool emphatically brought to an end their losing run by fighting back from a goal down to thrash Eintracht Frankfurt in the Champions League.

After making a blistering start to the season with seven successive wins in all competitions, the Reds’ form took a concerning dip with four successive losses, including to rivals Manchester United in the Premier League on Sunday.

Initially, it looked like that poor run of form would continue as they made a stumbling start in Germany and fell behind when ex-Leeds defender Rasmus Kristensen struck.

But Liverpool turned things around as Ekitike – starting alongside British-record signing Alexander Isak for the first time – equalised 10 minutes before the break when he raced on to Andy Robertson’s excellent ball out of defence and produced a composed finish.

Virgil van Dijk added a second four minutes later, powering home a header from a corner, before Ibrahima Konate made it 3-1 a minute before half-time as he also headed in a corner.

The Ekitike-Isak partnership lasted just 45 minutes as the former Newcastle striker did not emerge for the second half, with Slot confirming after the game that he had suffered a groin injury.

The damage was already done by then, but Liverpool were determined to get back to winning ways in style as they added two further goals in a second half they completely dominated.

Cody Gakpo got his fourth of the season when he fired in from Florian Wirtz’s square ball before Dominik Szoboszlai’s long-distance drive wrapped up the win, with Wirtz once again providing the assist.

This was a much-needed win for Liverpool, with the pressure having ramped up on them following Sunday’s loss to one of their biggest rivals at Anfield.

In an effort to instigate a turnaround, Arne Slot decided to start forwards Ekitike and Isak for the first time, with the pair appearing to line up as a front two in Frankfurt.

Initially, the formation tweak appeared to unsettle the visitors, with the hosts – supported by a very vocal crowd – dominating the opening stages.

Their opener once again exposed Liverpool’s defensive frailties as the Reds lost the ball in midfield and Eintracht Frankfurt countered beautifully, tearing through the visitors before Kristensen sent a neat finish in off the far post.

That was the 18th goal Liverpool had conceded in 13 games this season – a stark contrast to the seven they had let in at the same stage last term.

But Ekitike’s goal against his former club sparked a turnaround as the visitors – who had not scored a first-half goal in any of their last four games – added two more in five minutes before the break.

That visibly deflated the hosts and they were a distant second best in a second-half Liverpool dominated.

Slot took a risk by not starting Mohamed Salah, who has scored 52 goals in the Champions League – but it was a risk that paid off with this emphatic victory that Liverpool fans will hope inspires their side to return to their best.

Eintracht Frankfurt finished third in the Bundesliga last season – their highest league finish since 1991–92 – but their form so far this term has been mixed.

They won three of their first four games of the campaign but went into this fixture on the back of two successive home losses, during which they had conceded seven goals.

But 12 goals in their five matches before Wednesday show they carry a threat in attack, despite losing Ekitike in the summer to Liverpool.

Their opener was the perfect example of counter-attacking football, pouncing as Wirtz lost the ball and then just cutting through a stunned opposition with ease.

But that was as good as it got for the hosts as they spent much of the second half chasing shadows, as they simply struggled to live with a rampant Liverpool.

The win will give Liverpool confidence in getting back to winning ways in the Premier League as the defending champions travel to Brentford on Saturday, 25 October (20:00 BST).

Eintracht Frankfurt, meanwhile, are at home to St Pauli in the Bundesliga on the same day (14:30 BST).

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