Liverpool boss Arne Slot fumes at Hugo Ekitike over ‘stupid’ red card

Liverpool head coach Arne Slot was not happy with match-winner Hugo Ekitike’s “stupid” red card in the 2-1 Carabao Cup win over Southampton.

The 23-year-old replaced Alexander Isak, after the £125 million British record signing opened his account, at half-time, but his first involvement was to be booked for punching the ball away in frustration.

And when he slid home Federico Chiesa’s pass five minutes from time to put Liverpool ahead again after Shea Charles had equalised, he wheeled away to the corner flag and removed his shirt before holding it up for the cameras.

It left referee Thomas Bramall with option but to issue a second caution followed by the red card, meaning the Frenchman will be suspended for the Premier League leaders’ trip to Crystal Palace on Saturday.

“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,” said Slot.

“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’.

“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.”

Ekitike apologised for his dismissal, saying emotion got the better of him.

He posted 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