Liverpool boss Arne Slot criticised Hugo Ekitike after the striker’s red card against Southampton in the EFL Cup. Ekitike, already on a booking, removed his shirt to celebrate and picked up a second yellow card. The dismissal rules him out of Saturday’s Premier League clash with Crystal Palace.
Alexander Isak had earlier netted his first goal for Liverpool since joining in the summer. Southampton equalised through Shea Charles before Ekitike tapped in from Federico Chiesa’s superb cross in the 85th minute. His celebration, however, spoiled the moment and left Liverpool a man short.
Ekitike’s costly mistake angers Arne Slot
Slot voiced his disappointment over the incident: “I think it’s stupid, [even] if you haven’t had a yellow card. Maybe I’m a bit old-fashioned, maybe I’m a bit old school, but I did score a few goals – not at this level – but I did score a few goals as well, and if I’d maybe outplayed three players – which I never did – and then hit it in the top corner, then maybe you can say, ‘This is all about me’. But if I had to score a goal like his, like he did, I would have turned around and walked up to Federico Chiesa and would say, ‘It’s all about you. Federico, a great assist, great run, and I didn’t have to do a lot.’ But that’s maybe me being a bit old school. It was stupid, not smart, in every sense.”
He admitted the suspension could disrupt Liverpool’s plans: “The good thing is that his team-mates helped him because we could get the win over the line, but if the information is correct and he is suspended for Saturday, it’s far from ideal.”
Slot also reflected on the first booking: “Was it needless? Yes. Was it stupid? Yes. The first one was needless and, to a certain extent, stupid because you have to control your emotions. I know how hard it is as a No. 9. The defender can almost do everything he wants and then you shove him a little bit or push him a little bit, you get a free-kick against you. But it’s always best you control your emotions, but if you can’t, do it in a way that doesn’t lead to a yellow card.”
Teammates react to the red card
After the game, Ekitike apologised on social media: “I was so excited to help the team achieve another victory in our home for my first Carabao Cup match… The emotion got the better of me tonight. My apologies to all the Red family, thanks to the fans who support us and to my team-mates who secured this victory.”
His teammates also reacted. Alexander Isak showed some understanding: “I am sure he just wasn’t aware of being on a yellow in that moment. Sometimes, when you score a goal, you are in that moment. Of course, it is unfortunate.”
Andy Robertson was more critical of the incident: “I’ll be very surprised if he does it again. Scoring a goal is always emotional and he must have forgotten he’d already been booked. The first one was stupidity, for kicking the ball away, and now we miss him for Saturday. It’s silly on his part, but he’s only young and he’ll learn from it.”
Liverpool progressed in the EFL Cup, but Ekitike’s actions frustrated both manager and teammates. With Crystal Palace next, the Reds will need to adapt without their young striker.
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