MAKING OF HUGO BOSS

HUGO EKITIKE has a lot to prove after his big-money move to Anfield.

- BY IAN DOYLE

And the France striker is up for the challenge - which is good news because he already has Liverpool boss Arne Slot snapping at his heels.

The 23-year-old, a £79million signing from Eintracht Frankfurt, was part of the whopping £446m that Liverpool spent in the transfer market over the summer.

And the 6ft 3in forward has started solidly with six goals in 15 appearances.

But Slot is already driving him up the path to greater things, potentially to reach the same level as the man that Ekitike calls his "big brother" - Real Madrid and France star Kylian Mbappe.

Does the Liverpool manager push him a lot in training?

"Yes!" laughed Ekitike. "As a player, sometimes you're p***ed, it's annoying.

"I know he wants the best for me and the best for the team.

"I would say he's on my back, but not for a bad thing. He just wants to help me, so I don't take that badly. He wants me to give more and more and more."

Ekitike already knows a thing or two about studying for greatness.