Hugo Ekitike has apologised to Liverpool fans after being sent off for removing his shirt following his late League Cup winner against Southampton, a celebration described as “stupid” by manager Arne Slot.
The 23-year-old France forward slid home Federico Chiesa’s pass five minutes from time to secure a 2-1 victory over second-tier Southampton as Liverpool produced another late show at Anfield on Tuesday.
Ekitike, who replaced the £125 million British-record signing Alexander Isak at half-time after the Sweden international had opened his account for the club, was first booked for punching the ball away in frustration.
Shea Charles equalised for Southampton, but Ekitike scored the winner in the 85th minute, wheeling away to the corner flag before removing his shirt and holding it up for the cameras.
Referee Thomas Bramall had no choice but to issue a second caution, resulting in a red card. This means Ekitike will be suspended for Liverpool’s Premier League trip to Crystal Palace on Saturday.
A remorseful Ekitike, who signed for the club in July for £69 million, admitted he got carried away. He wrote on Instagram, “I was so excited tonight to help the team achieve another victory here in our home for my first Carabao Cup (League Cup) match. The emotion got the better of me tonight. My apologies to all the Red family.”
Liverpool manager Arne Slot was clearly unimpressed, calling Ekitike’s behaviour in the third-round tie “needless” and “stupid.”
Slot said, “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 me, what did I do?’ But I am old-fashioned, I’m 47 and old. 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’.”
Ekitike has started the season well, scoring three goals in five Premier League games. However, he faces stiff competition for a forward position from Isak and can ill afford to miss matches, with the Swedish striker eager to make his mark.
