Hugo Ekitike opted not to celebrate against his old club(Image: AP)

The applause of the Eintracht Frankfurt fans will have sounded slightly different to what Hugo Ekitike is used to as he left the pitch with a little over 15 minutes remaining.

Having scored 26 goals in 64 games for Liverpool's hosts prior to his move to Anfield, they have form for cheering on the Frenchman after he has found the back of the net at Deutsche Bank Park. But after his hand in their demolition on Wednesday night, it was understandable their appreciation was diluted this time out.

Only those in the inner circle of Ekitike will know how much motivation he took from the signing of Alexander Isak at the start of September, but if the Liverpool man saw the increased competition of his £125m colleague as something of a threat, he has shown the exact sort of response Arne Slot will have looked for.

Ekitike, who has become a full France international since his move from Frankfurt in July, has been the outstanding performer of the slew of big-money arrivals. He is, in...