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

Anfield was silenced as Anthony Gordon looked to the Kop and defiantly pointed to his ear.

The Newcastle United forward had just fired his side in front against Liverpool with a well-taken 36th-minute finish.

There was plenty of time left.

But were Liverpool about to finally lose a top-flight fixture against the visitors on their own turf for the first time since 1994?

Was the champions’ winless run in the Premier League about to extend to six games?

Not if Hugo Ekitike had anything to do with it.

The France forward dragged his side level with a poacher’s finish – then fired them in front with a quick-fire second before half-time, much to the delight of manager Arne Slot.

“The fans love him,” Slot said after his side’s 4-1 win. “From the start, everyone could see how special he is, how fast he is.”

These were the sort of finishes Newcastle‘s scouting team had seen plenty of, having tried to sign Ekitike, 23, on three separate occasions – including last summer.

Even head coach Eddie Howe could not help but hold his hands up.

“Sometimes you have to acknowledge the player against you while also acknowledging we could have defended better,” he said.

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