Ekitike Isak Liverpool competition is heating up, but the French forward insists he is excited rather than concerned after the club’s latest signing.
The 23-year-old welcomed Alexander Isak’s arrival on deadline day and believes the added competition will only push him to raise his game further.
Ekitike has made a strong start to life at Anfield with three goals in four appearances.
He now looks forward to sharing the dressing room with a striker he has admired from afar.
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Ekitike relishes challenge of competing with Isak
Speaking to Liverpool FC, the forward expressed admiration for his new teammate.
“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.”
The France international added that life has already changed dramatically since moving from Eintracht Frankfurt.
“Obviously my life has changed. It’s a big move and I’m watched a thousand times more but I’m taking it positively. It’s the position I wanted to be in.”
Ekitike stressed the importance of maintaining high standards:
“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.”
The striker also earned his senior France debut during the international break, coming off the bench in a 2-0 win over Ukraine.
He acknowledged the challenge of competing for places with his national team’s wealth of attacking options.
“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.”
Ekitike’s hunger to prove himself at both Liverpool and France suggests he is not intimidated by the arrival of Isak.
Instead, he views the challenge as an opportunity to show his value at the highest level.
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