Frimpong’s Nightmare, Ekitike’s Chaos: Liverpool’s Carabao Cup Drama at Anfield
The night at Anfield was meant to be routine. Liverpool, flying under new manager Arne Slot, were expected to breeze past Championship side Southampton in the Carabao Cup third round. With rotation on the cards, fringe players had the chance to impress, and the fans turned up expecting goals, control, and progression.
Liverpool did win, edging out a chaotic 2-1 victory thanks to Alexander Isak and late substitute Hugo Ekitike. But beneath the scoreline lay a messy, nerve-racking performance that left supporters split and one new signing at the centre of a storm: Jeremie Frimpong.
A debut to forget
Frimpong, signed from Bayer Leverkusen in the summer, arrived billed as the dynamic successor to Trent Alexander-Arnold. Instead, his first Carabao Cup outing in red was the kind of nightmare every footballer dreads.
Passes went astray, defensive positioning faltered, and Southampton found joy almost every time they attacked his side. Groans echoed around Anfield, and pundit Tim Sherwood’s blunt verdict on Sky Sports went viral within minutes:
“Frimpong is having the worst game you can ever imagine.”
Social media piled on. Clips of misplaced passes trended faster than replays of Isak’s opener. For a player meant to embody pace, energy, and attacking threat, Frimpong looked strangely hesitant and vulnerable.
Southampton scare, Isak saves
Southampton nearly punished Liverpool’s sloppiness when Adam Armstrong rattled the bar before Leo Scienza headed wide with the rebound. Within 40 seconds, Liverpool broke through at the other end, with Isak slotting home his first goal for the club. It was a turning point — but not enough to steady the chaos.
Slot’s gamble of making 11 changes left the team looking like strangers. The midfield lacked control, the defence creaked, and even the usually reliable Andy Robertson looked rattled.
Ekitike’s madness
Then came the final act of pure Carabao Cup theatre. Substitute Hugo Ekitike tapped in what proved to be the winner late on, sparking wild scenes — until he tore his shirt off in celebration. Already booked, the referee had no choice but to show him a second yellow. The match-winner was sent off just seconds after securing Liverpool’s passage.
It summed up the night: joy and farce in equal measure.
The Bradley question
Frimpong’s struggles come at the worst time. Conor Bradley, the young right-back, has been thriving under Slot with fearless displays and solid consistency. Once seen as backup, he is now a genuine challenger for the starting spot.
Slot faces a dilemma: persist with his £40m signing, or reward the academy graduate whose confidence grows with each appearance?
Time or trouble?
Frimpong’s numbers at Leverkusen — 30 goals and 44 assists in 190 appearances — prove his talent. But Anfield demands instant impact, and patience is not always in supply. Fans are split: some argue adaptation takes time, others insist Liverpool can’t afford passengers in a title-chasing season.
Sherwood’s scathing words will sting, but football offers redemption quickly. The upcoming league clash against Crystal Palace could be Frimpong’s chance to respond — if Slot trusts him to start.
More than a win
For Slot, the 2-1 victory highlighted two truths. Liverpool’s project is still on track — unbeaten in the league, beating Atletico in Europe — but their depth remains under scrutiny. Success across four competitions demands reliability from every squad member.
And for Frimpong, the Southampton clash may become a defining moment: not the night of triumph he envisioned, but the challenge that tests his resilience, character, and ability to turn criticism into fuel.
The Carabao Cup tie will be remembered for Isak’s debut strike, Ekitike’s unforgettable red card, and above all, the trial by fire of Jeremie Frimpong — a night where his Liverpool story truly began
