Mo Salah was left in utter disbelief after Hugo Ekitike missed an incredible opportunity to put Liverpool ahead against Manchester City at Anfield.
The game was evenly poised at half-time, with both teams level, but Liverpool came out of the dressing room after the break showing far greater intent. The Reds quickly asserted themselves in the opening minutes of the second half, looking the more dangerous side as they pressed forward in search of a lead.
Around ten minutes after the restart, Salah collected the ball at the edge of the penalty area and delivered a superb outside-of-the-foot pass to Ekitike. The French forward found himself in a prime position, with only Manchester City goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma to beat. It looked like a perfect chance for Ekitike to continue his impressive scoring run, having already been a key contributor to Liverpool’s attacking play this season.
However, in a moment that stunned everyone at Anfield, Ekitike completely misjudged the opportunity and directed a free header wide of the goal.
The miss was so surprising that it immediately drew attention, particularly from Salah, whose reaction was one of sheer disbelief. Gary Neville, commentating for Sky Sports, noted the scene, saying, “Salah has collapsed to the ground. He can’t believe [Ekitike] has missed! He has to score!” The reaction perfectly encapsulated the astonishment among fans and players alike.
This uncharacteristic miss was particularly surprising given Ekitike’s usual composure in front of goal. Over the past few games, he has demonstrated an impressive scoring touch, and it was almost unfathomable that a striker of his quality could fail to hit the target from such close range.
Even if he had produced a powerful header that forced Donnarumma into a remarkable save, the expectation was that someone of Ekitike’s caliber should have scored. To miss from that position was therefore a rare lapse from the 23-year-old.
Salah’s dramatic reaction highlighted just how extraordinary the miss was, reflecting the frustration and disbelief felt across Anfield. The French striker, who recently scored a double against Newcastle, has now amassed 15 goals in his debut Premier League season, proving himself a vital addition to Liverpool’s squad.
Thankfully for Liverpool, the disappointment of Ekitike’s miss was somewhat mitigated later in the match. Dominik Szoboszlai produced a sensational long-range free-kick in the 74th minute, putting the Reds ahead with a strike that even surpassed a similar goal he had scored against Arsenal earlier in the season.
While Ekitike could have settled the game much earlier with that chance, his miss remains a rare exception in an otherwise brilliant debut season. His overall performance continues to impress, and moments like these, although frustrating, are unlikely to overshadow the significant impact he has had at Liverpool this term.
Salah’s visible disbelief perfectly captured the mood among teammates and supporters, emphasizing just how shocking the missed opportunity was.
