Steven Gerrard makes feelings clear on Hugo Ekitike after Champions League display

Hugo Ekitike has impressed since joining Liverpool during the summer transfer window, and he scored his 13th goal of the season against Qarabag on Wednesday

Hugo Ekitike has a big fan in Steven Gerrard

Steven Gerrard said that he "loves" Hugo Ekitike and believes the young striker is only going to get "better and better" at Liverpool.

Ekitike has arguably been the pick of the Reds' summer signings, registering 13 goals during his debut season with the club, and his general level of play has largely been impressive.

Ekitike score during Wednesday night's hammering of Qarabag in the Champions League, and Gerrard gave his take on the game on TNT Sports.

"A lot of positives, exactly the result and the performance that the manager needed just to calm a bit of noise going into the weekend," Gerrard said.

"Mac Allister scoring at the back post from a set piece was another positive, because they've not scored as many as they would've liked.

"The main positive is these two: Ekitike [and Wirtz combining for Liverpool's second goal]. The timing of the pass [from Ekitike] and the finish [from Wirtz]. They're growing and evolving and that connection – they're on the same wave length.

"When there's space behind the back lines, Liverpool can look extremely dangerous. I love this kid (Ekitike), I think he's just going to get better and better. What a signing he's been so far."

Ekitike has quickly established himself as a firm favorite among Liverpool's supporters with his goal-scoring exploits as well as his charisma – and the 23-year-old told fans that there is more to come from him.

"I would say good," Ekitike said when asked to assess his start to life at Anfield during a chat with reporters in the Anfield mixed zone after the win over Qarabag.

"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 teammates, that's a big thing. Everything I do outside with my teammates, 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," he said.

"Obviously, when you see the last game in Bournemouth, but what I can say is everyone gave 100% of themselves. Like every team we have to go through something but we stick together and hopefully it will go better. We have the quality, I really believe things will go well."