ReactionWhy Liverpool's win over Newcastle was down to 'team spirit' for Hugo Ekitike
Hugo Ekitike praised an all-round team performance from Liverpool following their 4-1 victory over Newcastle United on Saturday night.
The Reds produced a clinical display at Anfield in the Premier League, with Ekitike's quickfire double before half-time giving Arne Slot's side the lead by the interval.
Anthony Gordon had opened the scoring for the visitors but Florian Wirtz and Ibrahima Konate extended the advantage in the second half to seal three points.
Afterwards, Ekitike gave credit to his teammates for their display and was left pleased after Liverpool built on their midweek defeat of Qarabag to make it back-to-back wins on home soil.
"It's always nice to score goals and give confidence to the players," Ekitike told TNT Sports post-match.
"I think we came here [against Newcastle] with confidence but also I think tonight is about team spirit. We won 4-1. I scored two goals. Ibou scored and Flo scored.
"But it's the whole team if you see the work of Macca [Alexis Mac Allister] and Dom [Szoboszlai]. Everybody tonight was running everywhere. It's not about the one you see on the scoresheet or who scores goals. It's about the team tonight."
Read on for the rest of the interview with the forward…
On his relationship with Wirtz…
He's a great player who smells football. It's pretty easy for me to play with him. I like to create space, link up and I can do everything with that kind of player. You just have to run in the free space and I know he will find me, like tonight. He gave me a great pass, so it's just fun to play with him.
On his clinical finish for his second goal…
It's something that I work on in training and I don't use that much in games. It's something you don't see much nowadays. I tried to go past [the defender] but he's pretty fast so I had to find something. The point is like the last games, I would say until the start of the season I beat them to go inside and shoot, but he [the defender] gave me so much space I could try that [finish]. It worked so that's good!
On his technique for the finish…
I try it in training. It's quite difficult but I scored a few. [The first one] was my favourite.
On whether he sets himself any goal targets at the start of the season…
That's a hard question. I want to score a lot of goals. I would love to be the top scorer in the club but I don't think a certain number of goals. I just want to be involved and help the team to win because it's the best thing. As I said, I love to give the assists to Flo when he scored [in another game] and I was involved and gave an assist. I just like football. If I give an assist and score, I don't mind, I just want the team to win and be involved.
On comparisons to former Liverpool striker Fernando Torres…
Back in the day I couldn't watch the Premier League, to be honest… I know about him and I watched some clips. I would never put myself on the same level as him... I love him. He was a really good player. If I can reach his level and be even better it would be great, but I have to keep working.