Liverpool 4-1 Newcastle: Hugo Ekitike draws Fernando Torres comparison as he haunts former admirers Newcastle

Anfield fell silent as Anthony Gordon looked towards the Kop and pointed defiantly to his ear.

The Newcastle United striker scored well in the 36th minute against Liverpool to shoot in front.

There was a lot of time left.

So were Liverpool about to lose a top-flight game at home to the visitors for the first time since 1994?

Was the champions’ winless streak in the Premier League going to extend to six games?

Not if Hugo Ekitike has anything to do with it.

The French striker dragged his own sideline with a poacher’s finish and then fired them forward with a quick shot a second before half-time, much to the delight of manager Arne Slot.

“The fans love it,” Slot said after his team’s 4-1 win. “From the very beginning everyone could see how special he was and how fast he was.”

These were the kind of finishes that Newcastle’s scouting team had seen plenty of as they tried to sign Ekitike (23) on three separate occasions, including last summer.

Even head coach Eddie Howe couldn’t help but raise his hands.

“Sometimes you have to accept the player you’re playing against but also accept that we can defend better,” he said.

“Ekitike is an outstanding player and you saw that today. He has a little bit of everything and that is his biggest strength. He is tall, he is fast and he can finish.”