Ekitike Haunts Frankfurt as Liverpool Hit Five to End Losing Streak

Liverpool snapped a run of four straight defeats in emphatic fashion, coming from behind to crush Eintracht Frankfurt 5–1 in the UEFA Champions League (UCL) and reignite their European campaign.

Desperate to stop the slide, Arne Slot’s side were rocked early on when Frankfurt struck through a superb move. Mario Götze threaded an inch-perfect pass to Rasmus Kristensen, who fired in a powerful right-footed effort from a tight angle that glanced off the post and in — his first UCL goal.

The home crowd erupted, but their joy was short-lived. Just minutes later, former Frankfurt forward Hugo Ekitike silenced his old fans, racing onto Andrew Robertson’s clever through ball and slotting home with clinical precision. It was a poetic moment for the Frenchman, who left the Bundesliga club for £69 million only three months ago.

Liverpool’s comeback gathered pace soon after. Virgil van Dijk rose highest to head in Cody Gakpo’s corner and put the visitors in front, before another set-piece brought a third before half-time. This time, Dominik Szoboszlai’s delivery found Ibrahima Konaté, who powered home a bullet header to leave Frankfurt stunned and the Reds cruising into the break with a commanding 3–1 lead.

Slot introduced Federico Chiesa for Alexander Isak at the interval, and the Italian nearly marked his appearance with a spectacular acrobatic effort that flew just wide. Florian Wirtz, still chasing his first Liverpool goal, also went close with a dipping free-kick that Michael Zetterer tipped over the bar.

Frankfurt’s bright start had long faded, and the hosts were hanging on as Liverpool surged forward relentlessly. Zetterer produced two fine saves to deny Ekitike and Conor Bradley, the latter’s fierce drive deflecting onto the post.

A fourth goal felt inevitable — and it duly arrived. Gakpo was perfectly placed to tap in Wirtz’s low cut-back, before Szoboszlai got the goal his performance deserved, drilling home Liverpool’s fifth from another Wirtz assist to complete a commanding victory.

The result could hardly have come at a better time for Slot, who will hope it marks a genuine turning point after what had been labelled a mini-crisis. Liverpool’s response was both ruthless and reassuring, extending their unbeaten streak against German opposition to 15 matches (W12, D3) — a run that stretches back to 2002.

For Frankfurt, it was another sobering night in Europe. Their opening three group-stage games have all ended 5–1, with two of those heavy defeats leaving Dino Toppmöller’s men winless in five against Premier League sides (D2, L3).