Liverpool Boss Slot Blasts ‘Stupid’ Ekitike for Red Card After Scoring

Liverpool manager Arne Slot blasted Hugo Ekitike for a stupid sending-off after tapping home a winner against Southampton in the League Cup on Tuesday and then removing his shirt in celebration.

The Frenchman, who replaced record signing Alexander Isak at halftime, had been booked already for kicking the ball away in frustration and the second yellow five minutes from time left Liverpool defending a 2-1 third-round lead with 10 men.

Liverpool captain Andy Robertson told Sky Sports television it was a stupid thing to do when on a yellow card and Slot doubled down afterwards.

“I think it’s also stupid if you haven’t had a yellow card yet,” he said.

“Maybe I’m a bit old-fashioned, maybe a bit old school, but I did score a few goals — not at this level — as well and if I maybe outplay three players, which I never did, and then hit it in the top corner, then maybe you can say ‘oh, this is all about me.’

“But if I had to score a goal like he did tonight, I would have turned around and walked up to Federico Chiesa and would say ‘It’s all about you, Federico. Great assist, great run and I didn’t have to do a lot’.

“It was stupid, not smart in every sense… he’s now suspended for Saturday and that is far from ideal.”