Liverpool’s 2-1 win over Southampton in the Carabao Cup third round on September 24, 2025, should have been remembered as a night of drama and progress, booking their spot in the next round with a late strike at Anfield. Instead, the spotlight shifted to Arne Slot’s furious tirade against Hugo Ekitike, whose reckless red card in stoppage time overshadowed an otherwise gutsy victory against determined Championship opposition. The Dutch manager, usually calm since succeeding Jürgen Klopp, didn’t hold back in his press conference, calling out the young French forward for a costly lapse that nearly undid the result. With Gary Neville’s criticism of Darwin Núñez’s benching already stirring controversy, Slot’s public reprimand has intensified scrutiny around squad discipline and harmony at a delicate stage of the season.
The contest itself was full of twists. With a Champions League tie against AC Milan and the Merseyside derby on the horizon, Slot heavily rotated his side, leaving Mohamed Salah, Virgil van Dijk, Dominik Szoboszlai, Ryan Gravenberch, and Ibrahima Konaté out of the lineup. Teenagers Trey Nyoni and Conor Bradley were handed starts, alongside £10 million summer signing Federico Chiesa, who set up Alexander Isak’s 43rd-minute header—his first goal since a £60 million move from Newcastle. Southampton, led by Will Still, hit back through Cameron Archer’s deflected strike on 57 minutes after a shaky moment from Jarell Quansah. With penalties looming, Ekitike, introduced in the 75th minute, latched onto Cody Gakpo’s through-ball to smash home a 90th-minute winner. Anfield erupted—but the 22-year-old’s exuberant celebration, removing his shirt after already being booked for a rash tackle on Kyle Walker-Peters, saw him dismissed seconds later. Liverpool were forced to cling on with 10 men as Adam Armstrong almost snatched an equalizer, only for Caoimhin Kelleher to save them.
Slot’s anger was instant. “Stupid. Absolutely needless,” he snapped post-match. “Hugo won us the game, and we’re pleased with that—but to throw it away like this is unacceptable. We’re fighting to stay in this competition, and he put us under pressure for no reason. He’ll learn, but it’s a costly lesson.” The words carried weight. Ekitike, a £32 million signing from PSG in January 2025, has struggled to shine—just three goals in 14 outings—and this first red card of his English career has only sharpened doubts about his maturity. Slot hinted at dropping him for the Everton clash, saying, “We need players who stay switched on.” Online reaction split the fanbase: one viral post read, “Slot’s right—he’s got to grow up,” while another insisted, “He’s 22 and scored the winner! Ease up, Arne.”
The saga adds to mounting tension. Neville’s claim that Núñez should leave for Manchester City if Liverpool keep sidelining him has already heaped pressure on Slot. Now, with Ekitike suspended for the fourth-round tie—possibly against United or Spurs—and Luis Díaz and Alisson still dealing with injuries, Liverpool’s depth looks stretched. Positives emerged—Nyoni’s tidy passing, Chiesa’s assist—but frailties too: Quansah’s positional lapses, Bradley’s struggles against Armstrong’s pace, and Gakpo’s missed chances that highlighted why Núñez’s energy is missed.
Ekitike’s dismissal is more than a blip—it disrupts rotation during a brutal run of seven matches in 21 days. Teammates tried to rally around him, with Isak posting, “We ride together, brother—head up 💪,” but the optics are damaging. Slot’s tough-love approach mirrors Klopp’s intensity but risks alienating younger players still bedding in. Pundits were divided: Jamie Carragher urged patience, calling the red card “daft” but fixable, while Neville doubled down, quipping, “First Núñez benched, now Ekitike sent off. Something’s off at Anfield.”
Context matters. Liverpool have scored 14 goals in six league games, but defensive lapses and discipline remain flaws. Slot’s system depends on control and composure, and Ekitike’s misjudgment could see him pushed behind Núñez or Jota. Supporters chanted his name as he trudged off, but many echoed the frustration online: “Love his fire, but that was brainless.” With a title chase and a tricky cup draw ahead, Slot’s task is clear—channel his squad’s energy without letting it unravel. Ekitike’s error might be a one-off, but if mistakes pile up, City could be the ones taking advantage.
