Liverpool manager Arne Slot has expressed his disappointment at Hugo Ekitike, after the striker was sent off in Tuesday night’s League Cup win over Southampton.
The summer signing received his marching orders minutes after scoring the winner in the 2-1 win over Southampton and will now miss this weekend’s crucial clash against Crystal Palace.
The Premier League champions started British-record signing Alexander Isak ahead of Ekitike in a bid to move him up to speed with more game time and were rewarded in the first half.
Federico Chiesa capitalized on a poor defensive pass to square for the Sweden striker, who finished emphatically for his first Liverpool goal.
Isak was then hooked off at halftime, with Ekitike coming on as his replacement for the second half.
Southampton briefly threatened and were back on level terms in the 76th minute, when a mistake in defense by Wataru Endo allowed Shea Charles to equalize for the visitors.
However, Ekitike continued his fine start to life at the club, popping up with the winner after good work by Federico Chiesa.
The young Frenchman could not control his emotions and pull off his shirt during celebrations.
He had received a first yellow card early in the second half for dissent, before he was given his marching orders for a second bookable offense.
The Reds kept their defense tight and sealed a 2-1 win to advance to the next round.
They face Crystal Palace this weekend, with both sides the remaining two unbeaten teams in the English Premier League this season.
With Ekitike set to miss the encounter, Isak will be expected to play an important role for his side, in a repeat of the 2025 FA Community Shield final.
Slot angry with Ekitike for needless action
Ekitike’s red card denies Arne Slot of the chance to call upon one of his in-form attackers against a stubborn Crystal Palace team.
Speaking after the match, Slot was furious with the striker, who received two unacceptable bookings.
“It was needless and stupid. The first one was already needless and to a certain extent stupid because you have to control your emotions”, Slot admitted after the match.
“I know how hard it is when you are a No. 9 when the defender can to a certain extent do anything he likes. It’s always the best to control your emotions. If you can’t, do it in a way that doesn’t lead to a yellow card.
I told him that if you score in the Champions League final in the 87th minute after outplaying three players and hitting it in the top corner, I can maybe understand he is like: ‘This is all about men, what did I do.’ But I am old-fashioned, I’m 47 and old”, the Liverpool boss continued.
“I never played at this level but did score a few goals and if I scored a goal like this, I’d have turned around and walked up to Federico Chiesa and said: ‘This goal is all about you, this is not about me.’ Needless, not smart, you call it stupid, I called it stupid right away as well.”
