Hugo Ekitike scored two quick goals as Liverpool defeated Newcastle United 4-1 in a Premier League fixture on Saturday, January 31, 2026. The France international's brace helped Liverpool secure their first league win of 2026, ending a five-game winless run.
Ekitike struck in the 41st and 43rd minutes at Anfield, turning the match around after Anthony Gordon had given Newcastle a 36th-minute lead. Florian Wirtz and Ibrahima Konate added further goals for Liverpool in the second half.
Newcastle had pursued Ekitike on multiple occasions, including in January 2022, summer 2022, and summer 2025, before he joined Liverpool in July 2025 for an initial fee of £69 million. The forward had previously rejected Newcastle for Paris Saint-Germain in 2022. Newcastle manager Eddie Howe had previously called Ekitike an "outstanding player".
