Hugo Ekitike has expressed his delight at the arrival of Alexander Isak at Liverpool, stating it was 'a pleasure' to see him join on deadline day. The France striker is looking forward to the stiff competition for places and hopes to continue his strong start to the season, leaving manager Arne Slot with a selection headache.

Liverpool secured Ekitike's services from Eintracht Frankfurt in a deal that could potentially reach £79m. The 23-year-old hitman, who joined in July, has been Slot's go-to striker, netting in three out of his first four competitive matches for the Reds.

All while Liverpool were also chasing Isak, eventually landing him in a record-breaking £125m deal on deadline day last week. Isak will need time to regain match fitness before Slot can make any final decisions.

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However, given his proven goal-scoring prowess in the Premier League, many expect the Sweden star to become Slot's preferred striker. This could result in Ekitike being relegated to the bench, but when asked about this by the French press, Ekitike insisted he's ready to compete with his new teammate, reports the Liverpool Echo.

"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," Ekitike said.

"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."

Currently awaiting confirmation on whether he'll earn his maiden senior start for France against Iceland on Tuesday, Ekitike has previously confessed he'd be willing to switch positions at Liverpool to make room for another striker's arrival.

With the left wing identified as his potential new home, that would spell trouble for Cody Gakpo. The Netherlands international has similarly featured in all four Reds fixtures this campaign in that position, netting once and providing two assists.

Ekitike also revealed to French journalists how he's relishing the heightened pressure and attention that accompanies representing the defending Premier League champions.

"Obviously my life has changed," the summer acquisition revealed. "It's a big move and I'm watched a thousand times more, but I'm taking it positively, it's really good. It's the position I wanted to be in.

"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."

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