The French striker has enjoyed an impressive debut campaign at Anfield following his £69 million move from Eintracht Frankfurt last summer but thinks that he can improve further.

Asked to assess his time with the club so far, Ekitike – who is Liverpool's top scorer this season with 12 goals in all competitions – told reporters: "I would say good.

"Obviously I could do better, I could do worse. I'm pretty happy. The most important thing was to set up outside of the pitch with my team-mates, that's a big thing.

"Everything I do outside with my team-mates, training, I think I've settled in well and that helps me to perform so I would say I'm happy but I'm hungry for more and I expect more from myself so I have to keep working."

Ekitike has rapidly become a fan favourite at Liverpool and says the backing of the supporters gives him "energy".

The forward said: "It means a lot. I play for fans, they give me so much energy.

"Sometimes in games when I haven't scored you hear your name from the crowd and it's a great feeling. It was what I was dreaming of as a kid and it made me live that so I'm grateful and I want to give more to them to make them happy."

Liverpool take on Newcastle in the Premier League on Saturday (31.01.26) and Ekitike is ready for a stormy reception from the away supporters at Anfield after he came close to joining the Magpies last summer.

He said: "Obviously we were close (to joining Newcastle) but I made my choice. I knew where I wanted to come so that's all I can give you.

"I don't care (about the reception from Newcastle fans). I play for Liverpool, I have my fans here, we played there (Newcastle) already and won so hopefully we will have a great week of working. I don't care about this, I just want to play and help the team. Simple."