"He showed a lot of hard work to get to this fitness level where he is at the moment. It sometimes took us -- me -- a bit of convincing that this all is actually needed to become stronger but he always did it, not always with a smile on his face but he has worked really hard to get fitter on and off the pitch."
"I've tried to convince him as well, the better you defend a set-piece the bigger chance you have to score at the other end, because if you are 0-0 it is easier to score a goal than if you are 1-0 down. It may sound strange but it is what it does with the energy levels of the other team. For us and him to score goals, it is important we don't concede from set-pieces."
Hugo Ekitike scored on his first three appearances after joining from Eintracht Frankfurt but then produced three goals across his next 17 matches amid team struggles and the arrival of Alexander Isak. With Isak sidelined for months and Mohamed Salah at the Africa Cup of Nations, Ekitike now carries greater attacking responsibility and has scored five goals in four matches. Focused work on physicality, fitness and defensive set-piece contribution has aided adaptation to English football. Head coach Arne Slot pushed the player to embrace that programme, and Federico Chiesa offers an alternative option at No. 9. Liverpool are unbeaten in six matches (four wins, two draws) heading into a home game against Wolves.
Read at ESPN.com
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