Hugo Ekitike believes Alexander Isak’s presence will help his growth because the younger striker welcomed the elevated competitors at Liverpool.
Arne Slot’s Premier League champions made waves in the summertime switch window, with the 23-year-old following the likes of Florian Wirtz, Jeremie Frimpong and Milos Kerkez to Anfield.
Ekitike joined from Frankfurt in a deal price £69million plus a possible £10m in add-ons and has hit the bottom operating, scoring 5 targets in his first 10 appearances in all competitions.
However Liverpool maintained a powerful curiosity in Newcastle sharpshooter Isak all through the summer time and acquired their man for a British file £125m on deadline day.
“I believe it’s good with gamers in such a giant membership,” Ekitike stated. “I can’t see one huge membership enjoying with just one striker, so I believe it’s good that he’s right here.
“Even for me at my age, I believe I nonetheless have lots of issues to enhance and be taught, so for me it’s good that he’s right here.
“(As for if we will play collectively) that’s for the coach to determine how he desires to play. That’s not me.
“However clearly it’s nice gamers, I’ve been enjoying in two-striker composition, one-striker… so I can do lots of issues. If we’ve to play collectively, I can try this.”
Ekitike actually seems to be loving life at Liverpool, who he joined regardless of curiosity from the likes of Manchester United and Newcastle.
“It was simply the only option,” he stated. “You realize, it’s the champions of England.
“For me, they’ve nice gamers, an incredible historical past. It simply fitted with what I used to be on the lookout for after Frankfurt.”
Ekitike was talking on the eve of Liverpool’s Champions League match at Galatasaray, the place the younger striker is in line to make his first look since final Tuesday’s embarrassing sending-off.
The Frenchman changed Isak at half-time of the Carabao Cup conflict in opposition to Southampton and went on to attain a late winner, eradicating his shirt and holding it as much as the cameras in celebration.
However the substitute had already been booked and picked up what Slot known as a “silly” purple card that dominated him out of Saturday’s 2-1 loss at Crystal Palace.
“I believe that wasn’t good,” Ekitike stated. “Clearly I punished myself alone, I’d say.
“I felt a bit dissatisfied to look at the boys from house the final Saturday however, as I stated (on Instagram), I apologise to all people already, to my team-mates.
“That sort of factor gained’t occur once more. I simply transfer on now. I’m simply wanting ahead to enjoying and I simply deal with soccer.”
Ekitike will hope to make amends in Istanbul, the place Liverpool arrived with out Federico Chiesa resulting from what Slot known as a “little niggle”.
The Liverpool boss didn’t need to take any dangers with Saturday’s journey to Chelsea developing – a match he hopes to move into on the again of a morale-boosting victory in opposition to Galatasaray.
“I believe we all the time must do – regardless of for those who win, lose or draw – what’s requested of you if you wish to compete for trophies, however not to mention for those who put on a Liverpool shirt,” Slot stated.
“That’s giving every part you’ve got and mixing that with the very best soccer you possibly can play.
“We created throughout the course of the sport extra probabilities than we had in all of the three video games we performed earlier than in opposition to Palace, however we additionally conceded many extra probabilities than we did earlier than.
“So we will enhance, and the issues we will enhance I’ll present tonight to the gamers.”
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