Kylian Mbappe praises Liverpool ‘superstar’ on social media

Liverpool find a new hero as Kylian Mbappe hails Hugo Ekitike after Newcastle double

Liverpool supporters left Anfield buzzing after Hugo Ekitike tore Newcastle United apart, scoring twice in the space of two breathless minutes to turn a drifting afternoon into a statement win. The French striker, signed from Eintracht Frankfurt in the summer, now has 15 goals this season and the numbers only tell part of the story. What matters more is how he bends matches to his will when Liverpool need it most.

Under Arne Slot, fresh from guiding Liverpool to a Premier League title in 2024/25, the side have become ruthless at home. Yet even in that setting the visit of Newcastle United felt awkward until Ekitike lit the fuse. Two finishes, calm and clinical, dragged the tempo up and dragged the crowd with it.

Hugo Ekitike delivers at Anfield

The Kop has seen its share of centre forwards, but there is something disarming about Ekitike’s movement and timing. He does not bully defenders, he ghosts them. When Liverpool needed a foothold, he provided it, and once the door cracked open he kicked it wide. Those two goals before half time shifted the balance and by the final whistle the result felt inevitable.

Photo: IMAGO

Ekitike’s impact has been immediate since he arrived, yet Saturday carried extra weight. It was the kind of cameo that stamps authority on a dressing room and a fanbase.

Kylian Mbappe crowns a superstar

Admiration came from a familiar voice too. International team mate Kylian Mbappe, who knows Ekitike from their days at Paris Saint-Germain and with France, was quick to react on social media. After Ekitike celebrated Liverpool’s win on Instagram, Mbappe replied with a single word, “superstar”.

No hyperbole required. Mbappe, now scoring freely for Real Madrid, rarely hands out compliments lightly. His nod carries weight, especially with a World Cup looming where the pair are tipped to lead the line for Les Bleus.

Liverpool momentum builds

For Liverpool, the timing could not be better. Slot’s side are relentless, the football is sharp, and Ekitike is the focal point. He stretches defences, opens spaces for runners, and finishes chances when they arrive. Newcastle felt all of it in a punishing 4-1 that kept the home crowd singing long after the final whistle at Anfield.

Supporters have already embraced him as one of their own, and with Mbappe publicly backing that view, the wider football world is catching up. Liverpool have a striker who changes games, and right now that makes all the difference.