Hugo Ekitike: “I could score more, I’m not that happy” | OneFootball

Ekitike’s restless chase for perfection driving Liverpool’s goalscoring surge

Liverpool supporters have always admired a striker who refuses to settle, and Hugo Ekitike is cut from that cloth. Sixteen goals in a debut campaign would be paraded as triumph in many dressing rooms. At Anfield, under the floodlights and scrutiny that define Liverpool, it is merely a starting point.

In a candid interview with Liverpoolfc.com, reported by Chris Shaw, Ekitike made it clear he judges himself by a harsher metric than headlines or Player of the Match awards. His opening goal in the 5-2 win over West Ham United was the latest chapter in an impressive run of Liverpool goalscoring, yet he sounded more like a man analysing missed chances than celebrating success.

That mentality has history at Liverpool. From Ian Rush to Mohamed Salah, elite forwards at this club have measured greatness not by one season’s tally but by relentless consistency. Ekitike, still learning the rhythm of English football, seems determined to follow that lineage.

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Numbers that still irritate Ekitike

Statistics tell a promising story. Thirty-seven appearances, sixteen goals, six assists. Contributions in clusters, sharp movement, clever link play. Liverpool’s attack, reshaped by Arne Slot, has begun to hum with fluency, and Ekitike is central to the tune.

Yet for the striker himself, numbers are a provocation rather than praise. “To be honest, I could score more. I’m not that happy!” he admitted. It was not false modesty; it was analysis. “But it’s not only about goals, it’s assists as well – today I think I gave one or two assists. As long as I can help the team and be involved, that’s the most important. I want to win so, personally, I’m happy. I’m looking forward to the upcoming games.”

Those words reveal a forward obsessed with contribution over vanity. Liverpool’s goalscoring machine relies on collective movement, on pressing and interplay, and Ekitike understands his role within it. Still, the irritation lingers. Elite strikers live with it.

Inside the striker’s own words

After the West Ham match, Ekitike spoke with the mix of satisfaction and impatience that defines ambitious professionals. “Yeah, I think that was a good win, a good job from the team. Really happy with this win. We have to keep going because it’s going to be a long way until the end of the league. But really happy, I think that was really important today.”

On Liverpool’s fast start, he added: “When you go through those kinds of games and score early, it helps. It helps the team and the fans also. You feel more confident. And obviously going into half-time at 3-0 is nice. But they showed that it means nothing because they could come back into the game. We conceded as well but when you concede, you have to be able to score goals and we scored five. It has been a long time that we scored a lot of goals in the game, so that’s nice.”

He also pointed to improvements from set-pieces: “Obviously we had some problems at the start of the season. We have been talking all together, working on the pitch at set-pieces. It’s good that today it worked. I think we deserved it because we put a lot of energy in this, so that’s nice.”

Then came the admission that defined his mood: “Obviously I can improve, I could score also in the last games, I had good chances. So I have to keep working. I want to be the best version of myself to help the team more, because I know I could help more. But it’s always about lessons and getting better. I’ll try in the upcoming games to be even better, score more and be involved more.”

What it means for Liverpool’s title push

For Liverpool, Ekitike’s dissatisfaction is a gift. A striker content with sixteen goals might coast; one craving twenty-five will drag the team with him. Liverpool’s goalscoring record in recent weeks suggests a side finding rhythm at exactly the right moment.

Slot’s system demands forwards who press, combine and finish. Ekitike’s assists against West Ham showed his adaptability, while his movement across the line unsettled defenders. If the Frenchman’s standards continue to rise, Liverpool’s attacking output will follow.

Supporters should take comfort in his restlessness. Liverpool’s history is filled with forwards who turned frustration into silverware. Ekitike appears intent on joining that tradition, one ruthless finish at a time.