Liverpool’s young French striker saw red after going overboard with his goal celebration.
Ugo Ekitike and his teammates were still celebrating as the crowd roared on. Then came a completely different scene: the referee brandished a yellow card — Ekitike’s second of the match! His joy at putting his team ahead quickly turned to despair as he was sent off. The reaction from his coach shifted as well. Instead of praise for scoring the winner, Liverpool manager Arne Slot lashed out at the striker for his red card.
In this English League Cup match on Tuesday, Liverpool defeated Southampton 2-1.
At Anfield, Alexander Isak gave Liverpool the lead in the 43rd minute. It was the Swedish forward’s first goal for his new club since joining for a record transfer fee this season. Southampton equalized in the 76th minute.
Ekitike, who came on as a substitute for Isak after the break, then restored Liverpool’s lead with a goal of his own — one that ultimately decided the match.
He struck about five minutes from full time, racing toward the stands in celebration. He took off his shirt and held it aloft toward the crowd — an action that cost him dearly. The referee showed him a yellow card for removing his shirt.
He had already been booked earlier. The second yellow meant he had to leave the field.
Liverpool’s relief at winning was muted. Instead, the frustration over Ekitike’s red card dominated the mood. Captain Robert Anderson didn’t hide it after the match:
“I’d be very surprised if he ever does that again. He picked up two needless cards and we’ll definitely miss him in Saturday’s game.”
“It was the kind of thing you’d call stupid on his part. But he’s still young and will learn from this.”
Coach Arne Slot’s reaction was even sharper:
“It was unnecessary and like something a stupid person would do. The first yellow card wasn’t needed either and was just as stupid, because it’s crucial to keep your emotions under control. Then he picked up another card later. I know it’s hard to control your emotions sometimes, but you have to express them in a way that doesn’t lead to a yellow card.”
While Ekitike’s goal gave Liverpool victory at an important moment, it wasn’t exactly spectacular. His role in the goal was relatively simple. Much of the credit belonged to Robertson and Federico Chiesa. From midfield, Robertson lofted a brilliant ball forward, which Chiesa expertly controlled inside the box. Surrounded by two defenders and the advancing goalkeeper, Chiesa slipped the ball to Ekitike, whose only task was to tap it into an empty net.
Slot was unimpressed with such an unrestrained celebration for a goal like that in a League Cup third-round match:
“Even if he hadn’t been booked already, the second card would still have been stupid. I told him, if you score in the 87th minute of a Champions League final after dribbling past three players to score a great goal, then maybe I’d understand such a celebration. I’ve scored a few goals myself, though not at that level…”
“Maybe I’m old-fashioned, with old-school ideas. But I told him, in a game like today, after scoring that kind of goal, I’d just turn to Federico Chiesa and say, ‘Great assist, you made an incredible run, I didn’t have to do much. The goal is all yours.’ But instead he did something stupid, not smart. Now we won’t have him for Saturday’s game, which is not ideal for the team.”
On Saturday, league leaders Liverpool face Crystal Palace away in the English Premier League.
Later, Ekitike apologized to the fans on social media:
“I lost my head to emotions tonight. I apologize to everyone in the Liverpool family…”
