How Ekitike shows Slot shift towards Klopp tactics

In the history of the competition, Arne Slot’s summer reshuffle was already the most significant by a reigning Premier League champion.

A reconstruction of Liverpool’s midfield is a starting point for Florian Wirtz. The celebrated full-back duo of Trent Alexander-Arnold and Andy Robertson is about to end, thanks to the announcements for Jeremie Frimpong and Milos Kerkez. Hugo Ekitike’s anticipated arrival, however, is the final flourish that practically qualifies as a full-scale revolution.

This is no longer Jurgen Klopp’s team.

Before we consider how and why Ekitike will affect Slot’s tactics, it’s worthwhile to examine the most recent stats to explain why Liverpool are prepared to spend £69 million on the 23-year-old with £10 million in additions.

That can be interpreted as demonstrating how effective Ekitike is overall, whether it is passing the ball, running into channels, or coming in behind.

In that regard, he is very similar to Alexander Isak, but with much more flair to his game and a talent for dribbling.

In 2024-25, he created more chances from open play (44) than any other Bundesliga player, making especially good at setting up team-mates.

That simply means that Ekitike needs some tuning.

Ekitike’s smart assists, his give-and-go moves, and his line-breaking carries into the final third are all hallmarks of the elite modern number nine in a time when using attacking transitions are becoming more important.

In this context, he led the league in shot-ending carries (44) and attempted dribbles (126), while also scoring more goals from fast breaks (44) than anyone else in the division.

Ekitike’s anticipated arrival is a fascinating shift for Slot, which is why.

In his debut year, Slot tempered Klopp’s football to create a slower, more composed Liverpool, living up to the expectations of a manager who once described Pep Guardiola’s teams as the “ultimate joy in football.”

However, Ekitike suggests a turn backwards, perhaps reflecting a realization like Guardiola’s just recently experienced.

A few months prior to signing a direct, transition-focused forward in Omar Marmoush, Ekiti’s striker partner, Guardiola said, “Modern football is not positional.” You must follow the rhythm, they say.

Ekitike and German international Wirtz will join forces in the same summer, for what seems like a promising new style of attack built on piercing forward movement and an inclination to weave through the thirds as quickly as possible.

The two should work brilliantly together. Both have quick transitions in Bundesliga teams and are quick one-touch passers between the lines.

Ekitike points to a different Liverpool setup in addition to Wirtz and the two new full-backs.

In the years 2024-2025, Mohamed Salah ran the right wing almost entirely on his own as Alexander-Arnold snuck inside, scoring 47 of Liverpool’s 86 goals (55%) in the period.

In contrast, Frimpong is a very attacking, wide right-back. Salah should be relieved of that, but it might also result in the Egyptian playing for the newly appointed Liverpool boss, Wirtz, who hasn’t had a proper number 10 in a while.

Ekitike’s history of playing in a strike partnership gives that theory more weight. In a 3-5-2 formation at Frankfurt, he arguably had the best of his days, playing with Marmoush regularly and alternating positions in a quick forward line.

He also frequently appeared in his own name at Reims, where he frequently did not play in a two. Could Slot have planned something akin to Salah and Ekitike?

With Wirtz and a number eight seated just ahead, Salah could move inside and play as a sort of split striker alongside Ekitike thanks to Frimpong’s aggressive wing play on the right.

That would undoubtedly be direct, dynamic, and straight-lined, and would be prepared for a football transition next season that would be quick.

With his such a versatile number nine leading the charge, Slot only has a limited number of options.

Ekitike has the ability to drop like Roberto Firmino or fall behind, play alone or with two, and transition between possession-focused teams and play.

He is the real deal, the type of centre-forward with the tactical skill that practically every “Big Six” club seeks.