Liverpool fans are furious after watching new signing Hugo Ekitike’s debut against Japanese side Yokohama F. Marinos.
After weeks of rumours linking Liverpool with Eintracht Frankfurt star Ekitike, the striker finally completed a move to Anfield last week.
The Reds reportedly agreed a deal worth up to £79million for their new number nine, who joined Liverpool’s pre-season tour in Asia shortly after the deal was confirmed.
After footage of the Frenchman in training impressed fans on social media, all eyes were on the Nissan Stadium as Ekitike made his debut against Japanese side Yokohama F. Marinos.
But fans were not happy after watching Ekitike’s first 45 minutes in Red, as they took to social media to complain about one specific factor of the 23-year-old’s debut.
Liverpool signed Hugo Ekitike last week. (Image: Getty)
After a first half that finished with the scoreline at 0-0, Ekitike was replaced by Darwin Nunez, cutting short the new signing’s first game for Liverpool.
Fan reaction to his performance in the match was fairly mixed, with some suggesting that he could be the signing of the season, while others were not so convinced by his ability.
But one thing that all Liverpool did agree on was that the quality of the pitch at the Nissan Stadium was so poor that it siginifcantly impacted Ekitike and the rest of the squad during the match.
Posting on X during the first half, one fan wrote: “This pitch has completely spoiled Ekitike/Wirtz watch.”
Another admitted: “I won’t get onto Ekitike because of the pitch.”
With one fan who was impressed by Ekitike’s performance writing: “Ekitike is perfect for Liverpool; Baller. The pitch is absolutely awful so playing fluid football is quite difficult so it’s not fair to criticise the lads’ performance.