Hugo Ekitike may have delivered a goal, an assist, and a Man of the Match award on his Premier League debut, but his post-match words made it clear that he holds himself to the highest standards.
The 23-year-old forward, signed this summer from Bayer Leverkusen for £79 million to add fresh firepower to Liverpool’s attack, has already made an immediate impression at Anfield. Having scored in last weekend’s Community Shield loss to Crystal Palace, the French U21 international followed up by opening the scoring and creating another in Friday’s 4–2 victory over Bournemouth.
Speaking to Sky Sports after the match, Ekitike admitted the occasion exceeded even his own expectations.
“It’s a dream. I always dreamed to play here in the Premier League so I just enjoy every minute.
It’s an amazing stadium. The fans at the end when it was at 2-2, they pushed so much. Even on the bench, I enjoyed it. I wanted to be in the crowd! It’s just amazing. But it’s the first game, we have so much to do to get better and to reach our goals.”
It was the kind of performance to instantly win over supporters, and by the time Ekitike was substituted in the second half, his name was being sung loudly from the Kop.
For all the praise from fans, the forward was quick to stress that his performance was only the beginning and that he “could do better.”
“Obviously I think it was a good performance. I could do better. But the most important thing tonight is the win and the mentality we showed.
We wanted to win for the people who came tonight and for Diogo [Jota], and I think that’s what we did. I have so many things to do better, but I help the team as much as I can. I can do a lot of things and I think I will get better and do even more for this team.”
Ekitike’s humility and hunger stood out as much as his contribution on the pitch qualities that will only endear him further to supporters. His goal and assist made him just the second Liverpool player in history to record both on a Premier League debut, following Darwin Núñez’s feat at Fulham in 2022.
Unlike Núñez, though, Ekitike gave a performance that felt complete — clever movement, relentless work rate, and the kind of composure that suggests he already belongs at this level.
Liverpool fans have long cherished forwards who bring character as well as quality. Ekitike’s mix of self-belief, humility, and obvious talent suggests they may have found another cult favourite in the making.
If this is only the start, then the Frenchman’s Anfield journey promises to be every bit as exciting as he hinted on Friday night.
