Hugo Ekitike has given his reaction to Alexander Isak providing competition for places at Liverpool, with the record signing expected to take Ekitike’s place up front.
Liverpool’s new French attacker has had a brilliant start to his Reds career, scoring in each of his first three games including the Community Shield.
His link-up play and clinical finishing have impressed supporters who are already singing his name to the tune of the conga on the Kop.
The 23-year-old’s starting place will now come under threat, though, due to the arrival of record signing Isak.
Once fully fit, Liverpool’s new No. 9 is expected to be a mainstay through the middle and would reduce Ekitike’s game time.
“It’s fun!”
The young forward is taking the competition for places in his stride, though, saying: “It’s fun.
“When you play for the best teams, you expect to be competing with the best players. Isak is a player I’ve watched too, so seeing him arrive is a pleasure.
“It’s going to be tough competition, but I’m going to focus on performing well so that it’s a problem for the manager.”
While Ekitike has proved a threat up front so far, he could also play off the left, with Cody Gakpo currently only rivalled by 17-year-old Rio Ngumoha in that position.
“I’m taking it positively”
“Obviously my life has changed,” Ekitike added after making his debut for France.
“It’s a big move (to Liverpool) and I’m watched a thousand times more, but I’m taking it positively, it’s really good. It’s the position I wanted to be in.
“When you have this kind of standard, you have to show that you belong here and you have to continue to perform, but it’s a position that I like and that I want to keep.”
Ekitike faces stiff competition on the international stage too, with Kylian Mbappe, Ousmane Dembele, Michael Olise, Desire Doue and Bradley Barcola all available to manager Didier Deschamps.
France’s next match is on Tuesday evening, away against Iceland, and Ekitike is on the right path having made his debut with a nine-minute cameo in their recent 2-0 win over Ukraine.
The young attacker continued: “It’s a real pleasure to be a part of this group of French attackers, knowing their quality.
“I’m taking it as a learning experience because they are players who have more experience than me in the national team.
“We don’t have much time to connect, but it’s a real pleasure to be with them. We have to rise to their level.”
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