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Liverpool fans could hardly believe their eyes at Anfield on Saturday as their team cruised to a 4-1 victory over Newcastle United. Hugo Ekitike’s dazzling display, including a goal that mirrored one of Fernando Torres’ most iconic strikes, stirred deep nostalgia among the Reds faithful. Even Liverpool legend Steven Gerrard joined in the admiration, confessing that the French forward’s “pace and power” remind him of his former Spanish teammate “every time I watch him.”

The Premier League encounter showcased Liverpool’s dominance, with Ekitike scoring twice to take his tally to 15 goals across all competitions this season. But it was his second goal that truly captivated the Kop.

Chasing a perfectly weighted through ball down the inside-left channel, Ekitike unleashed his blistering speed to outpace the Newcastle defence before calmly toe-poking the ball past the goalkeeper. The resemblance to Fernando Torres’ maiden Liverpool goal against Chelsea in 2007 was uncanny—a finish that first introduced ‘El Nino’ to English football.

Liverpool’s media team quickly capitalised on the moment. Following the win, the club’s official account shared a split-screen video comparing Ekitike’s strike with Torres’ classic goal. The side-by-side footage highlighted the near-identical movements—the same run, posture, and that trademark finish which defined Torres’ explosive debut campaign at Anfield.

“We thought that one looked familiar,” read the club’s caption, a playful nod to the resemblance that had everyone talking.

From the TNT Sports studio, Steven Gerrard, who once formed a devastating partnership with Torres, offered high praise for the 23-year-old forward. “It’s Torres-like. He just gets it out of his feet and it’s that toe poke. He reminds me of Torres, this player, every time I watch him,” Gerrard said during his post-match analysis.

He continued, “He’s scoring similar types of goals. If you give him space in the channel, he’ll run it. He’s too quick, you can’t catch him, and he’s deadly. There are a lot of similarities — pace, power, he can score, he can assist.”

For Ekitike, who joined Liverpool amid high expectations and a sizeable transfer fee, such an endorsement from one of the club’s greatest ever captains will undoubtedly boost his confidence as Arne Slot’s men push to secure a top-four finish in the Premier League.

When asked about Gerrard’s remarks, Ekitike responded with humility. In a candid post-match interview, he admitted that his familiarity with Torres’ prime years came not from live matches but from watching online clips, explaining that his family couldn’t afford Premier League broadcasts when he was growing up in France.

“Back in the day, I couldn’t watch the Premier League to be honest — my mum didn’t pay so I couldn’t see! I have watched some clips on YouTube,” Ekitike said with a grin.

He added, “I will never put myself on that bracket. He was an incredible player. If I reach his level, it would be great. I just have to keep working.”

Though Ekitike is eager to carve out his own legacy at Liverpool, if he keeps producing performances reminiscent of Torres, the Anfield crowd will be more than happy to embrace the comparison.