Mo Salah proved his point on Hugo Ekitike problem as he breaks silence after being benched

Hugo Ekitike's glaring miss against Atletico Madrid proved Mohamed Salah's point that the Liverpoolduo aren't yet on the same page. The Reds captured a nail-biting 3-2 win over the Spanish giantson Wednesday in their first Champions League game of the season.

A brace from Marcos Llorente cancelled out early strikes from Andy Robertson and Salah, but it was the captain Virgil van Dijk who rose highest to direct a header past Jan Oblak in the 92nd minute to win the game at Anfield.

There was still time on the clock, however, as the Reds pushed on for a fourth before the full-time whistle blew. Dominik Szoboszlai played a ball into Salah who marauded down the right flank and crossed the ball into Ekitike to finish home from a few yards.

Despite it looking like the Frenchman would easily direct the ball in the back of the net, he instead fluffed his shot with his effort going over the bar. It was certainly an attempt at goal Liverpool fans have not yet seen from the 23-year-old who has already scored three goals for the club this season.

While Ekitike arrived at the correct moment of Salah's pass, he may have mistimed the pace the Egyptian put on the ball, perhaps contributing to his forgettable effort on goal.

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The failed conversion does give credibility toSalah's previous admission that he does not yet have a familial understanding with Ekitikeon the pitch. Given the pair have only started five games together, it's not a cause for concern but one fans may decide to keep an eye on him as the campaign progresses.

It was during an appearance on the Media Network where the 33-year-old said patience will need to be had when it comes to building chemistry with his new team-mates, Ekitike in particular.

"So far, I didn't figure the connections out yet," said the Liverpool great. "Like with Darwin or Lucho or the guys they used to play in front, or Diogo. I knew where to start with Diogo or Darwin.

"I know where to find them. I knew their game very well, but with Hugo, he's still new. Sometimes I need the ball in the field. Sometimes we need it in the space. We try to figure that out, through the training sessions or like the videos.

"The manager shows us. So I will figure it out soon because also it's going to help my game to grow as well." Ekitike was introduced in the game in the 58th minute after he was dropped to the bench for the first time in his Liverpool career, making way for the club's record signing in Alexander Isak who made his Reds debut.

The relegation to the substitutes bench did nothing to lessen the support the striker received from the Anfield crowd who serenaded the France star when warming up and when coming on in the second half.

Ekitike was one of four Frenchmen involved in the match but it was the presence of Atletico's Antoine Griezmann that proved to be a special moment for him. Following the final whistle, he swapped shirts with the Le Blues legend who retired from international duty last year, while Ekitike made his senior bow for the national team this month.

Mesmerised by his possession of the 34-year-old's shirt, Ekitike took to his Instagram stories to post a picture of himself holding up the kit before tagging Griezmann and simply writing: "Legend".

With the first Merseyside derby of the season commencing on Saturday, it remains to be seen who Arne Slot opts for in his attack with one of Cody Gakpo, Isak or Ekitike expected to drop to the bench.

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