Hugo Ekitike aims to build on an excellent start to the season as Liverpool enter a busy run of fixtures.
The striker, who joined the Reds from Eintracht Frankfurt over the summer, made an immediate impact by scoring three goals in his first four appearances before the September international break.
Goals against Crystal Palace, AFC Bournemouth, and Newcastle United saw him become the first Liverpool player in 12 years to score in each of his first three games, a feat last achieved by Daniel Sturridge.
Ekitike’s impressive form earned him his first call-up to the France senior squad, and he made his international debut as a second-half substitute against Ukraine.
Back with Liverpool, and with the addition of Alexander Isak to Arne Slot’s attacking options, Ekitike is excited by the team’s potential and the opportunities ahead.
“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.
“My mindset [is]: play with the best players in the world. It helps you to get better. All together, all the players, we are going to reach even a better level together.”
On the feeling of making his senior bow at international level, he said: “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 was among several signings Liverpool completed during the summer transfer window and has so far been joined in the attacking areas of Slot’s starting XI by Florian Wirtz.
Asked about forming a connection with the Germany playmaker, Ekitike said: “Flo is a great, great player, he understands football I think as I understand football.
“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.”
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