{"id":675072,"date":"2026-01-05T09:02:21","date_gmt":"2026-01-05T09:02:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/675072\/"},"modified":"2026-01-05T09:02:21","modified_gmt":"2026-01-05T09:02:21","slug":"liverpool-news-hugo-ekitike-confirms-his-problems-at-club-and-florian-wirtz-doesnt-care","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/675072\/","title":{"rendered":"Liverpool news: Hugo Ekitike confirms his problems at club and Florian Wirtz &#8216;doesn&#8217;t care&#8217;"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Hugo Ekitike opened up about the issues he&#8217;s faced at Liverpool before missing out on their clash against Fulham<\/p>\n<p><strong class=\"Strong_strong__e2x35 __className_d61b39\">Fasika Zelealem<\/strong> Senior Sports Reporter <\/p>\n<p>05:30, 05 Jan 2026<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/1_Britain-Premier-League-Soccer-25361575926120.jpg\" alt=\"Liverpool's Florian Wirtz, right, celebrates with Liverpool's Hugo Ekitike after scoring\" loading=\"eager\"  \/>Hugo Ekitike and Florian Wirtz have had different starts to their Liverpool careers(Image: AP)<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">It&#8217;s been a contrasting debut campaign for <a class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.mirror.co.uk\/all-about\/hugo-ekitike\" target=\"_self\" aria-label=\"\" rel=\"follow noopener\" tabindex=\"0\">Hugo Ekitike <\/a>and<a class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.mirror.co.uk\/all-about\/florian-wirtz\" target=\"_self\" aria-label=\"\" rel=\"follow noopener\" tabindex=\"0\"> Florian Wirtz<\/a> at <a class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.mirror.co.uk\/all-about\/liverpool-fc\" target=\"_self\" aria-label=\"\" rel=\"follow noopener\" tabindex=\"0\">Liverpool.<\/a> <a class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.mirror.co.uk\/sport\/football\/transfer-news\/breaking-liverpool-transfer-hugo-ekitike-35594425#:~:text=Liverpool%20have%20completed%20the%20\u00a3,not%20make%20a%20late%20move.\" target=\"_blank\" aria-label=\"The 23-year-old arrived in a \u00a379million dealLink opens in a new tab.\" rel=\"follow noopener\" tabindex=\"0\">The 23-year-old arrived in a \u00a379million deal<\/a> &#8211; the third biggest transfer the Reds clinched last summer &#8211; and has so far laid a claim to the title of being the Premier League&#8217;s best summer signing.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">In the case of the German, who cost <a class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.mirror.co.uk\/sport\/football\/transfer-news\/inside-florian-wirtz-transfer-how-35391380\" target=\"_blank\" aria-label=\"the reigning league champions a fee worth up to \u00a3116m,Link opens in a new tab.\" rel=\"follow noopener\" tabindex=\"0\">the reigning league champions a fee worth up to \u00a3116m,<\/a> it&#8217;s been a less than ideal start to his career on Merseyside, having only captured his first goal for the club last month.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Amid their differing fortunes, the Frenchman detailed the problems he&#8217;s had since his arrival, while Wirtz&#8217;s carefree attitude was discussed by one of his team-mates. <strong class=\"Strong_strong__e2x35\">Mirror Football<\/strong> takes a look at the biggest stories regarding the Reds.<\/p>\n<p>Hugo Ekitike issues<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Arguably Liverpool&#8217;s best player this season, Ekitike has so far led the line admirably in his debut campaign with the Reds and has done so on his own in the last few weeks, given<a class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.mirror.co.uk\/sport\/football\/news\/alexander-isak-injury-liverpool-statement-36449677\" target=\"_blank\" aria-label=\" the broken leg Alexander Isak suffered last month.Link opens in a new tab.\" rel=\"follow noopener\" tabindex=\"0\"> the broken leg Alexander Isak suffered last month.<\/a><\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">With 11 goals to his name, Ekitike had started the last six games in all competitions before the <a class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.mirror.co.uk\/all-about\/fulham-fc\" target=\"\" aria-label=\"\" rel=\"follow noopener\" tabindex=\"0\">Fulham<\/a> match, and admitted his run up top due to the Swede&#8217;s injury is a tough situation for everybody involved.<\/p>\n<p>READ MORE: <a class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.mirror.co.uk\/sport\/football\/news\/arne-slot-hugo-ekitike-injury-36495306\" data-tmdatatrack=\"read-more\" data-tmdatatrack-articleid=\"36495306\" data-tmdatatrack-source=\"editorial\" tabindex=\"0\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Arne Slot issues worrying Hugo Ekitike injury update with major Arsenal concern<\/a>READ MORE: <a class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.mirror.co.uk\/sport\/football\/news\/liverpool-luis-diaz-new-career-36490725\" data-tmdatatrack=\"read-more\" data-tmdatatrack-articleid=\"36490725\" data-tmdatatrack-source=\"editorial\" tabindex=\"0\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Luis Diaz embarks on surprise new career just six months after leaving Liverpool<\/a><\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">He told Liverpool&#8217;s official website: &#8220;Obviously that kind of thing happened, and I was very sorry for him because it&#8217;s not funny when you come to a new club and get injured with that kind of injury \u2013 it&#8217;s difficult.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">&#8220;But for me, I try to do my job. The coach puts me on the pitch, and I&#8217;ll show him and show the fans that I can help the team. It doesn&#8217;t matter if I score, if I give assists, the most important [thing] for me is to win.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/2_GettyImages-2241723754-1.jpg\" alt=\"Hugo Ekitike and Alexander Isak of Liverpool during the Premier League match between Liverpool and Manchester United at Anfield on October 19, 2025 in Liverpool, England\" loading=\"lazy\"  \/>The load has been too much to bear for Hugo Ekitike who has suffered a hamstring injury(Image: 2025 Robbie Jay Barratt &#8211; AMA)<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">However, the load has proven to be too much for the Frenchman to bear, <a class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.mirror.co.uk\/sport\/football\/news\/breaking-liverpool-fulham-hugo-ekitike-36495127\" target=\"_blank\" aria-label=\"who missed the Reds&#039; away clash to Fulham on SundayLink opens in a new tab.\" rel=\"follow noopener\" tabindex=\"0\">who missed the Reds&#8217; away clash to Fulham on Sunday<\/a> after suffering a &#8220;minor hamstring injury&#8221;, according to <a class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.mirror.co.uk\/all-about\/arne-slot\" target=\"\" aria-label=\"\" rel=\"follow noopener\" tabindex=\"0\">Arne Slot.<\/a><\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">The Reds boss admitted Ekitike has played more minutes than he should have because of Isak&#8217;s absence, as he explained before the match at Craven Cottage: &#8220;Alexander Isak has been out for a few weeks now, that has meant that Hugo had to play more minutes than he did throughout the whole season.<\/p>\n<p>Sky Sports discounted Premier League and EFL package<\/p>\n<p>This article contains affiliate links, we will receive a commission on any sales we generate from it. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.mirror.co.uk\/affiliates\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Learn more<\/a><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/1744106962_61_0_Sky-Factbox.jpg\" alt=\"Content Image\" fetchpriority=\"auto\"\/><\/p>\n<p>\u00a343<\/p>\n<p>\u00a335<\/p>\n<p>Sky<\/p>\n<p><a class=\"AffiliateContent_content-buy-btn__xWiVO buy-btn\" aria-label=\"Buy button\" href=\"https:\/\/www.awin1.com\/cread.php?awinmid=11005&amp;awinaffid=213635&amp;platform=dl&amp;ued=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.sky.com%2Fdeals\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\">Get the deal here<\/a><\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Sky has slashed the price of its <strong class=\"Strong_strong__e2x35\"><a class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.awin1.com\/cread.php?awinmid=11005&amp;awinaffid=213635&amp;platform=dl&amp;ued=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.sky.com%2Fdeals\" target=\"_self\" aria-label=\"\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" tabindex=\"0\">Essential TV and Sky Sports<\/a><\/strong> bundle ahead of the 2025\/26 season, saving members \u00a3192 and offering more than 1,400 live matches across the Premier League, EFL and more.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Sky will show at least 215 live Premier League games next season, an increase of up to 100 more.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">&#8220;That has led to the fact that he picked up a slight hamstring injury because we had to play him more and more. For a player his age and not used to the <a class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.mirror.co.uk\/all-about\/premier-league\" target=\"_blank\" aria-label=\"Premier LeagueLink opens in a new tab.\" rel=\"follow noopener\" tabindex=\"0\">Premier League<\/a> completely, that&#8217;s a bit too much, and that&#8217;s why he will be out for today and hopefully be back for the <a class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.mirror.co.uk\/all-about\/arsenal-fc\" target=\"_blank\" aria-label=\"ArsenalLink opens in a new tab.\" rel=\"follow noopener\" tabindex=\"0\">Arsenal<\/a> game, but [I&#8217;m] definitely not sure yet.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>Florian Wirtz promise<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">It hasn&#8217;t been an ideal start to life for Wirtz, who has yet to contribute the sort of numbers fans were expecting given his \u00a3116m price tag. His talent may be obvious, but it&#8217;s come in spurts instead of a consistent stream of good form.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">However, his slow start at <a class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.mirror.co.uk\/all-about\/liverpool-fc\" target=\"\" aria-label=\"\" rel=\"follow noopener\" tabindex=\"0\">Liverpool<\/a> hasn&#8217;t worried team-mate Jeremie Frimpong, who arrived alongside the German last summer from Bayer Leverkusen. The Dutch international has no doubt Wirtz will come good at Anfield and claimed the 22-year-old pays no attention to the mammoth price it took to prise him away from Germany.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/1_Screenshot-132.jpg\" alt=\"Jeremie Frimpong pointing at Ibrahima Konate while Florian Wirtz sits in-between and laughs\" loading=\"lazy\"  \/>Jeremie Frimpong and Florian Wirtz arrived at Liverpool at the same time from Bayer Leverkusen(Image: YouTube\/Liverpool FC)<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">&#8220;He is top,&#8221; Frimpong said of Wirtz. &#8220;I know how good of a player Flo is. Like I&#8217;ve said in plenty of interviews, if it wasn&#8217;t for him, I wouldn&#8217;t have won the treble with Leverkusen. So we know how good he is and to see him doing it now\u2026 this is just the start. There&#8217;s plenty to come.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">&#8220;Flo is the type of player that doesn&#8217;t care about these things, the price tag. He&#8217;s just happy to play football. For me personally, I think Flo takes pressure really well. He&#8217;s just a guy that just loves the ball on his feet.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">&#8220;When he plays he&#8217;s just enjoying it. So for me, I don&#8217;t think he cares about all this. Of course, on the outside, what was it, \u00a3116m? I don&#8217;t think he cares about all that. He knows how good he is. He just wants to play.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\"><a class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/chat.whatsapp.com\/D75trFtk7nvFIsFICovG0h\" target=\"\" aria-label=\"\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" tabindex=\"0\">Join our LFC WhatsApp community<\/a> and get all the latest LFC news, views, transfer gossip and more, as it happens We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don&#8217;t like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you&#8217;re curious, you can read our Privacy Notice.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Hugo Ekitike opened up about the issues he&#8217;s faced at Liverpool before missing out on their clash against&hellip;\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":675073,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[8815],"tags":[9261,1121,748,393,2912,12568,4884,5759,179,763,16,15],"class_list":{"0":"post-675072","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-liverpool","8":"tag-alexander-isak","9":"tag-arne-slot","10":"tag-britain","11":"tag-england","12":"tag-florian-wirtz","13":"tag-footballblog","14":"tag-great-britain","15":"tag-hugo-ekitike","16":"tag-liverpool","17":"tag-liverpool-fc","18":"tag-uk","19":"tag-united-kingdom"},"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/pubeurope.com\/@uk\/115841685678961657","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/675072","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=675072"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/675072\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/675073"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=675072"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=675072"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=675072"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}