Boluwatife Kehinde
Liverpool player, Hugo Ekitike, went from hero to villain in the space of seconds on Tuesday night, after his dramatic winner against Southampton in the Carabao Cup ended with a red card and an apology to Liverpool fans.
The 23-year-old French forward had only been on the pitch since half-time, replacing £125 million record signing Alexander Isak, who had earlier opened his Liverpool account. Ekitike’s first touch of the game, however, was a negative on, earning a yellow card for petulantly punching the ball away in frustration.
Still, when Federico Chiesa slid a clever pass his way in the 85th minute, Ekitike seized the moment, tucking home a cool finish to restore Liverpool’s lead at Anfield after Shea Charles had equalised for the visitors. The Kop erupted. Anfield roared. And then, in an instant, the mood changed.
In the heat of the moment, Ekitike ripped off his shirt, ran towards the corner, and held it aloft for the cameras. It was the kind of celebration often reserved for historic occasions, but on this night it proved costly. Referee Thomas Bramall, having already cautioned the striker once, produced a second yellow and then a red.
The dismissal means Ekitike will miss Liverpool’s Premier League trip to Crystal Palace this weekend, an untimely blow as he battles Isak for a starting spot in Arne Slot’s attack.
A visibly embarrassed Ekitike later admitted the occasion got the better of him.
“I was so excited tonight to help the team achieve another victory in my first Carabao Cup match at Anfield,” he wrote on Instagram. “The emotion got the better of me. My apologies to all the Red family.”
But manager Slot didn’t sugarcoat his frustration.
“It was needless, it was stupid,” he said. “If you score in a Champions League final with a wonder goal, maybe I can understand. But in this situation? No. For me, that goal was all about Chiesa’s pass, not about taking off your shirt.”
Despite the controversy, Ekitike’s start to life at Liverpool remains promising: three goals in five league games and the knack for decisive moments. The challenge now is to prove he can deliver consistently—without costly lapses in judgment.
