Omar Marmoush provides Liverpool fans with glowing review of Hugo Ekitike | OneFootball

Manchester City’s Omar Marmoush has handed out a glowing review of former teammate Hugo Ekitike ahead of his maiden campaign at Liverpool.

The Egyptian forward only arrived at the Etihad Stadium in January from Eintracht Frankfurt, but has settled into Pep Guardiola’s squad with confidence and composure, offering moments of brilliance in front of goal along the way.

His arrival has been part of Manchester City’s wider recruitment drive over the last eight months, with Omar Marmoush seen as a key addition to bolster attacking depth following a season where injuries left Pep Guardiola short in wide areas.

Marmoush’s words of admiration for Ekitike come at an intriguing time, with City and Liverpool once again tipped to battle each other closely at the summit of the Premier League, after Arne Slot’s squad ended Pep Guardiola’s run of four successive top-flight triumphs.

The French striker’s move to Anfield was one of Slot’s major attacking signings of the summer, and his performances could be decisive in the latest title race. Having shared a dressing room with him at Frankfurt, Omar Marmoush’s opinion carries notable weight.

The 26-year-old has also been quick to express his admiration for fellow countryman Mohamed Salah, who spearheaded Liverpool’s charge to last season’s Premier League title, demonstrating both his respect for Anfield’s threats and his awareness of the high standard City must match in order to reclaim domestic dominance.

Speaking during a new interview with TNT Sports, Omar Marmoush has spoken with huge praise for Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah, off the back of a stellar individual season for the fellow Egyptian in driving the Anfield club to the Premier League crown last campaign.

“Salah was the best player in the Premier League last season, and has been at the very, very top level for so many seasons I cannot even count. We all know what quality he has,” Marmoush exclaimed.

The former Eintracht Frankfurt forward also spoke of his former teammate at the Bundesliga side Hugo Ekitike, who has since made a big-money move to Arne Slot’s Merseyside squad.

“Hugo just came to Liverpool. He had a very good start to the season and that doesn’t surprise me,” Marmoush said.

He continued, “I played with him in Frankfurt, he also has a lot of qualities, but hopefully, when we play against them, we can beat them.”

Looking ahead, these comments add further intrigue to the looming showdowns between Manchester City and Liverpool this season.

Both clubs have invested heavily, with City adding the likes of Rayan Cherki and Tijjani Reijnders. For Pep Guardiola, having a player with inside knowledge of one of Liverpool’s new attacking threats could prove useful in tactical preparations.

For Liverpool supporters, Marmoush’s words only reinforce the belief that Ekitike can thrive under Arne Slot and complement the experience of Salah in the frontline. From City’s perspective, Marmoush’s competitive edge shone through in his remark that he hopes to defeat his old teammate when the two clubs meet.

Should Ekitike adapt quickly and Salah maintain his elite form, clashes with City could again be decisive in the title race. And with Marmoush determined to make an impact in his first full campaign at the Etihad Stadium, the Egyptian may yet have a say in how those defining matches unfold.