Ekitike – ‘Play with the Best Players in the World’

Liverpool’s summer signing Hugo Ekitike has wasted no time making an impression at Anfield. The French striker struck three goals in his first four appearances before the September international break, with finishes against Crystal Palace, AFC Bournemouth and Newcastle United. That run made him the first Liverpool player to score in each of his first three games since Daniel Sturridge achieved the feat in 2013.

His early season form earned him a first call-up to the France senior squad, where he made his debut as a second-half substitute against Ukraine. Now back on Merseyside and preparing for a busy run of fixtures, Ekitike reflected on his promising start and his ambition to grow even further.

“I think I adapted well,” he told Liverpoolfc.com during an interview at the AXA Training Centre. “Obviously I still have things to improve, but I think it was a good [start].

“I feel good with the guys, they helped me to adapt here so obviously they make my football easier. And when you play with good players like this, you can improve and you can have success like that. The most important [thing] is to continue to be consistent.

“It’s good to be compared to Sturridge, I know he has been a great, great player here at Liverpool, so it’s good and I want to do my best to do better than him.”

Ekitike has been joined in Liverpool’s attack by another high-profile summer arrival, Florian Wirtz. The German playmaker has quickly developed an understanding with the French forward.

“Flo is a great, great player, he understands football I think as I understand football,” Ekitike explained. “We speak the same language on the pitch, so it’s kind of easy to have a connection with him. But I think you guys haven’t seen everything yet, better days are coming.

“But obviously the connection is good. We’re almost the same age, same generation, yeah, we talk the same football [language] and even outside football he’s a good guy.”

Making his senior bow for France was a milestone that Ekitike will not forget. “It was a proud moment for me, for my family.

“It’s a big step to go to the national team with France, especially because it’s difficult to get there – it’s a team with a lot of great players, so it means something to go there. So, I’m very proud and very happy with it.”

Ekitike’s attention now turns to Liverpool’s title defence, starting with a trip to Turf Moor to face Burnley. Seven fixtures await between now and early October, with Champions League and Carabao Cup campaigns about to begin.

“You play football for competition, so being busy with football and competition I think is the best feeling, especially for me,” said Ekitike. “Personally, that’s what I like, you just think about football; you eat and sleep and think about football, that’s the best feeling. You just can be grateful for that.

“I know two or three [Burnley] players from the youth team in the French national team, and I know they are good players so I’m sure that’s a good team.

“We need to be focused and to play this game 100 per cent together and I think it’s going to be good.”

Liverpool fans will be encouraged by Ekitike’s attitude and confidence as he aims to maintain his early-season momentum. His link-up with Wirtz could become a key feature of Arne Slot’s attacking blueprint.