Liverpool’s 2025-26 campaign hasn’t gone as planned as they continue to falter in the Premier League.
Arne Slot’s side are 14 points behind league leaders Arsenal and have won just once in the Premier League in 2026, while they’ve already been eliminated from the Carabao Cup.
However, it’s not all doom and gloom at Anfield. Liverpool are very much alive in the UEFA Champions League and the FA Cup and could yet finish the season strongly if they pull up their socks in the coming weeks.
Another silver lining from the current campaign is the blossoming relationship between Florian Wirtz and Hugo Ekitike, two very expensive imports from the Bundesliga in the summer transfer window.
While Wirtz needed time to show his class, Ekitike took to English football like a duck to water right from the get-go, quickly becoming a fan favourite at Anfield.
And if their recent link-up is anything to go by, it looks like a fruitful partnership is brewing that could define a new era at Anfield.
Following illustrious footsteps
Last week, Liverpool emphatically dispatched Qarabag 6-0 to book their place in the Round of 16 of the UEFA Champions League.
Both Wirtz and Ekitike got their names on the scoresheet in what was a memorable European night at Anfield.
And the German’s goal from outside the box was assisted by Ekitike as they combined to devastating effect to carve the Azerbaijani side open.
In doing so, the duo combined for the fifth time this season, edging closer to making Liverpool history.
The previous U-23 duo to combine for more goals in a single season at Anfield were Steven Gerrard and Michael Owen, as they notched up six during the 2003-04 campaign.
A few days later, Liverpool’s deadly duo were at it again as they turned on the style to secure a 4-1 comeback win against Newcastle United.
After the Reds were pegged back by Anthony Gordon’s opener, Wirtz stepped up and delivered a moment of magic.
His quick feet and ball manipulation came to the fore as he wiggled his way past a handful of Magpies defenders to tee up Ekitike, who made no mistake to bring level with a fantastic first-time finish.
The Frenchman doubled his tally and Wirtz also got his name on the scoresheet later in the game, capping off another fine performance at Anfield.
They wrote themselves into the club’s history books, becoming the first duo since John Barnes and Ray Houghton in 1987-88 to combine for six goals in their debut season.
Five of those goal contributions have come since November, which is a sign that their partnership is really starting to blossom at a time Liverpool needs it most.
Wirtz and Ekitike clearly enjoying budding partnership
It hasn’t been plain sailing for Liverpool this season, but it appears as if two of their three big signings are really enjoying each others’ company on and off the pitch.
In an interview with BBC Sport last month, Wirtz admitted that Ekitike’s quality has surprised him, adding that he already developed a relationship with him.
He said, “He’s a great guy – a big personality, a good friend already to me. We know each other from the Bundesliga – we played a few times against each other and exchanged shirts already.
“He is a fantastic player and even surprised me when I first saw him here training and playing because I didn’t know he was that good.
“It is so much fun to play with him because he knows how you move on the pitch and how you link up with each other.”
Ekitike also sang Wirtz’s praise last month, stating that he speaks the same ‘football language’ as the gifted German.
“I think we speak the same language of football,” said the 22-year-old in an interview with Sky Sports.
“That’s why we click. We just needed time to play with each other to become even stronger—stronger links—and to play good football. Because I think we speak the same language, it’s really nice to share the pitch with that kind of player.”
Striver verdict: The Bundesliga continues to serve Liverpool well
From Jurgen Klopp to Bobby Firmino, Liverpool have consistently raided the Bundesliga over the years and it goes without saying that both of them have been central to the club’s success recently.
The likes of Dominik Szoboszlai, Ryan Gravenberch, Ibrahima Konate and Wataru Endo have also swapped Germany for England in recent seasons.
And in their own right, each of them has been successful at Anfield, which is probably why Liverpool decided to repeat their trick.
Wirtz and Ekitike have already cemented their status as mainstays under Slot, while Jeremie Frimpong has shown flashes of his brilliance whenever he’s featured.
There has been a lot of clamour about German imports to England, but Liverpool’s recruitment strategy is proof that quality players will succeed regardless of where they are signed from.
