Hugo Ekitike reckons Alexander Isak competition will boost him at Liverpool

Hugo Ekitike believes Alexander Isak’s presence will aid his development as the young striker welcomed the increased competition at Liverpool.

Arne Slot’s Premier League champions made waves in the summer transfer 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 worth £69million plus a potential £10m (€11.45 million) in add-ons and has hit the ground running, scoring five goals in eight appearances in all competitions.

But Liverpool maintained a strong interest in Newcastle sharpshooter Isak throughout the summer and got their man for a British record £125m on deadline day.

“I think it’s good with players in such a big club,” Ekitike said. “I can’t see one big club playing with only one striker, so I think it’s good that he’s here.

“Even for me at my age, I think I still have a lot of things to improve and learn, so for me it’s good that he’s here.

“(As for if we can play together) that’s for the coach to decide how he wants to play. That’s not me.

“But obviousl,y it’s great players, I’ve been playing in two-striker composition, one-striker… so I can do a lot of things. If we have to play together, I can do that.”

Ekitike certainly appears to be loving life at Liverpool, who he joined despite interest from the likes of Manchester United and Newcastle.

“It was just the best choice,” he said. “You know, it’s the champions of England.

“For me, they have great players, a great history. It just fitted with what I was looking for after Frankfurt.”

Ekitike was speaking on the eve of Liverpool’s Champions League match at Galatasaray, where the young striker is in line to make his first appearance since last Tuesday’s