Liverpool Thrash Eintracht Frankfurt 5-1: Ekitike Shines, New System Excels

On Wednesday, Liverpool took on Eintracht Frankfurt in a high-stakes Champions League clash. The match started rough for Liverpool, who quickly found themselves behind by a goal.

But then came a wild turnaround—five Liverpool goals and a desperately needed win. After a summer full of upheaval, maybe this is the spark the team needed. Let’s pick apart the moments and choices that shaped this rollercoaster of a game.

The Comeback: Key Moments

Rasmus Kristensen, once of Leeds United, put Frankfurt in front early. Liverpool’s head coach Arne Slot responded with some bold tactical tweaks.

Hugo Ekitike’s Impact

Hugo Ekitike really stole the show, netting the equalizer after a lightning-fast break. Andrew Robertson set him free, and Ekitike just took off, sprinting half the pitch and finishing with ice-cold calm.

Honestly, it’s a bit puzzling why Ekitike warmed the bench in recent Premier League games. After this, can Slot really leave him out?

Goals from Set Pieces

Liverpool looked dangerous from corners, with Virgil van Dijk and Ibrahima Konate both finding the net that way. Set-piece coach Aaron Briggs, who took charge this summer, deserves some credit here.

Now, the real question is whether Liverpool can keep this up in the Premier League.

Tactical Adjustments

Arne Slot didn’t stick to his usual script. He made a few tweaks that really seemed to bother Frankfurt.

Formation Change

Instead of the familiar 4-2-3-1, Slot paired Ekitike with Alexander Isak up front. This gave Liverpool a more flexible look.

Cody Gakpo and Florian Wirtz drifted out wide, and the team pressed higher and moved the ball better. It actually looked fun for once.

Midfield and Defense

Dominik Szoboszlai and Curtis Jones ran themselves ragged in midfield, helping Liverpool control large spells of the match. There was a hiccup, though—Frankfurt’s goal came after Jones and Szoboszlai collided awkwardly.

Still, the defense held up well. Jeremie Frimpong and Conor Bradley even chipped in with some attacking runs from right-back.

Player Performances

A few players really made their mark in this game.

Virgil van Dijk and Ibrahima Konate

Van Dijk and Konate didn’t just defend—they both scored from corners. Their presence in both boxes made a huge difference.

Florian Wirtz

Wirtz finally broke his assist drought, setting up goals for Gakpo and Szoboszlai. He roamed from the right and gave Liverpool’s attack a creative spark it’s been missing.

Challenges and Opportunities

Of course, it’s not all smooth sailing for Liverpool. There’s still work to do.

Injury Concerns

Jeremie Frimpong limped off after a hamstring pull during a tussle with Nathaniel Brown. That’s already his second injury in just three months at Liverpool.

It’s a headache for Slot, who suddenly has a defensive depth problem to think about.

Consistency

Beating Frankfurt felt great, but can Liverpool keep this up? Consistency has been a real issue, and Slot’s tactical changes need to stick—otherwise, it’s back to square one.