Ekitike welcomes Isak arrival as Liverpool weigh strike partnership
Liverpool’s Hugo Ekitike says Alexander Isak’s arrival will benefit his growth as the duo wait to be paired under Arne Slot.
Liverpool striker Hugo Ekitike believes the record-breaking signing of Alexander Isak will only benefit his own development.
The 23-year-old joined the Premier League champions for £69m in the summer and impressed early on, netting five times in his opening 10 matches.
Despite Ekitike’s promising start, Liverpool pursued Isak throughout the transfer window and finally secured him on deadline day for £125m.
There has been plenty of discussion over how head coach Arne Slot will integrate both attackers, who have yet to feature alongside each other, after Ekitike was sent off during Liverpool's EFL Cup win over Southampton.
"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."
Ekitike registered 23 goal involvements (15 goals and eight assists) in the Bundesliga for Eintracht Frankfurt last term, while Isak recorded 29 goal contributions (23 goals and six assists) in the Premier League last season, firing Newcastle to Champions League qualification.
"[As for if we can play together] that's for the coach to decide how he wants to play. That's not me," Ekitike added.
"But obviously 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."
The forward pair could feature together for the first time when the Reds take on Galatasaray in the Champions League on Tuesday.
