![\"Hugo](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/0_GettyImages-2251735755.jpg\")
Hugo Ekitike of Liverpool celebrates scoring his team’s second goal during the Premier League match between Liverpool and Brighton & Hove Albion at Anfield(Image: 2025 Liverpool FC)<\/p>\nHugo Ekitike has reflected on the start to his Liverpool career and his hopes for the second half of the seasonHugo Ekitike of Liverpool celebrates scoring his team’s second goal during the Premier League match between Liverpool and Brighton & Hove Albion at Anfield(Image: 2025 Liverpool FC)<\/p>\n
Hugo Ekitike is dreaming big as his first season with Liverpool continues to go from strength to strength. The France international took his tally for the Reds up to 10 when scoring a brace in Saturday\u2019s 2-0 home victory over Brighton & Hove Albion.<\/p>\n
Coming from 23 appearances, only Daniel Sturridge<\/a> has scored more goals (eight) in his first 10 Premier League<\/a> starts for Liverpool<\/a> than the 23-year-old (seven). Back-to-back doubles against Leeds United and Brighton have seen Ekitike rocket up this season\u2019s English top-flight scoring charts, too, with only Erling Haaland and Igor Thiago bettering his return.<\/p>\n But considering Ekitike<\/a>\u2019s own eye-catching performances have come amid the Reds\u2019 own struggles, it has made the start to his Anfield<\/a> career even more impressive.<\/p>\n READ MORE: Liverpool could be without seven players vs Tottenham as Arne Slot dealt double injury blow<\/a>READ MORE: When I return to Liverpool I want to be first choice – and win the Champions League<\/a><\/p>\n He is not resting on his laurels, though. He is adamant he can do more and wants to be the very best.<\/p>\n And not satisfied with the campaign so far, Ekitike is hopeful that Liverpool can use their struggles and turn it into something positive during the second half of the season.<\/p>\n “I know what people expect. I have my expectations too,\u201d he said. “I’m just working on it to be as good as people expect me to be and I know I’m in a place I was dreaming to be.<\/p>\n “I’ve been to so many places and you always have something to reach. I think that’s what football is.<\/p>\n \u201cI always think that football makes you tired physically but mentally, if you want to get to the top and do and achieve things, it’s always about again and again and again.<\/p>\n “Because if tomorrow I score a brace and I say, ‘I’m really good’, it stops. Obviously I want to be the best – that’s why I’m playing.<\/p>\n \u201cBut I know I have so much work, so many things to improve. But, of course, I want to be the best.<\/p>\n \u201cA striker needs goals to be alive. Sometimes I don\u2019t get an assist, I don\u2019t get a goal but I know I make a good run for someone and he\u2019s gonna score.<\/p>\n \u201cAnd if I don\u2019t do that, nothing is going to happen. If you don’t have pressure, if people don’t care, that means you’re not at the right place. I’m at the right place.\u201d<\/p>\n He continued: \u201cIt\u2019s not too easy. We need to struggle with everything we do, and maybe at the end it\u2019s even more beautiful to win and achieve something.<\/p>\n \u201c(It was) a great start, a really fast start. And then going back to reality\u2026 I tried to keep working for the team.<\/p>\n \u201cObviously I\u2019m not happy about all the games I played, I think I could do better. In general I would say that was good, I can improve.<\/p>\n \u201cI know I can bring a lot more to this team, but I\u2019m definitely getting better and I\u2019m sure I\u2019m going to switch to a good season.<\/p>\n \u201cI find it exciting. I\u2019m just happy to be a part of it and obviously I want to be involved, be a big part of it and just help people and give joy.<\/p>\n \u201cBecause football, it\u2019s also fun. It\u2019s fun. People need to come and have fun, watching you and watching your team play. That\u2019s what makes me like football.\u201d<\/p>\n Liverpool beat the likes of Newcastle United and Manchester United to Ekitike\u2019s signature in the summer in a deal worth up to \u00a379m from Eintracht Frankfurt.<\/p>\n After joining the Reds, the Frenchman flew straight out to Hong Kong to meet up with his new team-mates on their pre-season tour of the Far East.<\/p>\n Arriving as they took part in an open training session in front of supporters, the reception he received from the crowd was an eye-opening experience.<\/p>\n \u201cIt was really good. When I first joined, I signed, I went straight to Hong Kong,\u201d he recalled to Rubi Deschamps in the club\u2019s latest \u2018A Day With\u2019 feature interview.<\/a> \u201cI arrived and went straight to join the team when they were training.<\/p>\n \u201cI couldn\u2019t even train with them but I was straight on the pitch and all these people were like, when they showed me on the screen, they were screaming.<\/p>\n \u201cObviously I knew it was big, coming to a big club, but I didn\u2019t know it was that big. I was like, \u2018Oh, that\u2019s cool!\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n While he might have initially been taken aback by Liverpool\u2019s side, Ekitike is at least well-versed in his Reds legends.<\/p>\n