Lightning at Anfield: Hugo Ekitike’s 46-Second Premier League Breakthrough

Opening salvo: Ekitike’s strike breaks the ice

Liverpool wasted little time hitting Brighton where it hurts, breaking the deadlock at Anfield as the 16th round of the Premier League unfolded.

The French striker Hugo Ekitike fired the opener from inside the box, and the ball found the net within seconds of kickoff.

The goal arrived after just 46 seconds, the fastest Liverpool goal in Premier League history since 2019, according to Opta.

Context and aftermath

According to Opta, it was Liverpool’s first goal in the opening minute of a Premier League match since April 2019, eclipsing the previous record held by Naby Keita at 15 seconds against Huddersfield Town.

Having moved from Eintracht Frankfurt, Ekitike has reached nine goals in all competitions this season, six of them in the Premier League for Liverpool.

He had gone seven league matches without scoring before last week’s brace against Leeds United, a 3-3 draw that nonetheless failed to deliver a win for the Reds.

Cap it all: Ekitike’s season-long tally continues to grow, marking him as a key question for Klopp’s attack as the race for top spots heats up.

Snappy finish, quick feet, and a stopwatch-friendly opener—Liverpool fans might call that a perfect blend of speed and strategy.