Liverpool manager Arne Slot has praised Hugo Ekitike’s remarkable transformation from a backup striker into the club’s key goalscorer, as the France international leads the Reds’ resurgence in the Premier League.

After a challenging spell that saw Liverpool lose nine of 12 games across all competitions, the team has climbed to fifth place, with Ekitike contributing eight league goals—five of them in his last three matches.

Ekitike’s summer arrival was initially overshadowed by the high-profile signing of Alexander Isak. However, with Isak sidelined for two months due to a leg injury and Mohamed Salah away at the Africa Cup of Nations, Ekitike has become indispensable to Slot’s plans.

“He’s put in a tremendous amount of work to reach the fitness level he’s at now,” Slot said ahead of Liverpool’s home clash against bottom-placed Wolves. “Sometimes it took me convincing that everything he was doing was necessary to get stronger, but he committed fully, even if not always with a smile. He has worked incredibly hard both on and off the pitch.”

Slot also emphasized the importance of Ekitike embracing defensive responsibilities, particularly on set-pieces.

“I’ve tried to convince him that the better you defend on set-pieces, the higher your chance to score at the other end. If the score is 0-0, it’s easier to score than if you’re 1-0 down,” Slot explained. “It may sound unusual, but it affects the energy of the opposing team. For us to score goals, it’s vital we don’t concede on set-pieces.”

Ekitike isn’t Liverpool’s only option at striker, with Federico Chiesa also capable of filling the role. Despite Liverpool’s struggles from set-pieces—conceding 11 goals while scoring just three—Slot remains optimistic.

“Players are getting fitter, including those who missed pre-season, and they’re adapting to each other,” he said. “I believe the best is still ahead. Considering what’s happened in the first half of the season, I’m not surprised where we are. Even with our set-piece record, we are still joint-fourth in the league, which shows the potential of this team.”