Liverpool manager Arne Slot described Hugo Ekitike’s red card as ‘stupid’ after the French striker was sent off after scoring Liverpool’s winner in their 2-1 defeat of Southampton in the League Cup on Tuesday, September 23.
Ekitike removed his shirt in celebration after slotting home in the 85th minute and was shown an immediate red card following an earlier booking for dissent.
The incident overshadowed Alexander Isak’s debut goal for the Reds and means the 23-year-old will miss Saturday’s trip to Crystal Palace.
Ekitike urged to ‘control emotions’
Reflecting on the Frenchman’s moment of madness after the game, Slot was distinctly unimpressed.
He told reporters: “Needless? Yes. And it was stupid. The first one was already needless and to a certain extent, stupid, as you have got to control your emotions.
“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’.
“It’s always best to control your emotions. If you can’t, do it in a way that doesn’t lead to a yellow card.”
Ekitike, meanwhile, admitted after the game that he had let his emotions get the better of him.
He said on Instagram: “I was so excited tonight to help the team achieve another victory here in our home for my first Carabao Cup match.
“The emotion got the better of me tonight. My apologies to all the Red family.”
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Reds suffer Leoni injury blow
Slot was true to his word on Tuesday and made 11 changes to the team that won the Merseyside derby at the weekend, handing debuts to goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili and centre-back Giovanni Leoni.
The 18-year-old centre-back was enjoying a hugely impressive start to life at Anfield before being stretchered off in the second half with a knee injury.
Slot added: “He is down because, for him, it didn’t feel good immediately. Normally the emotions of a player tell you a lot.”
More goals to come from Isak
Earlier, Swedish frontman Isak had opened his Liverpool account following good work from Chiesa.
The £125million record signing should have scored inside the first minute but his shot was deflected over the bar.
He made no mistake just before the break, however, and, speaking to ITV after the game, took his early miss in his stride.
“I should have scored earlier as well. It is part of being a striker, you miss some and score some,” he said.
“I feel confident in myself that things will work out and when I get chances I will put them away.”
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