Liverpool to Fine Hugo Ekitike After “Stupid” Red Card vs Southampton
Hugo Ekitike turned from hero to villain in seconds during Liverpool’s Carabao Cup win over Southampton. The French striker struck an 85th-minute winner at Anfield, only to immediately sabotage his own moment of glory by ripping off his shirt in celebration. Referee Thomas Bramall brandished a second yellow card, leaving Liverpool down to 10 men in the closing stages.
Teammate Jeremie Frimpong’s visible frustration summed up the mood, while pundit Chris Sutton slammed the 23-year-old’s actions as “sheer stupidity.” The dismissal now rules Ekitike out of Saturday’s Premier League trip to Crystal Palace.
Heavy fine incoming
According to Mail Sport’s Liverpool Confidential column by Lewis Steele, Ekitike will be fined two weeks’ wages — around £400,000. Steele added:
“A mistake has been made, the punishment handed down—Ekitike will lose financially, but gain experience.”
But the greater sting may be the backlash from within the squad. Both manager Arne Slot and senior players reportedly expressed their anger, publicly labeling the incident as “stupid” and “avoidable.”
Lesson to learn
Ekitike has since apologised, acknowledging his error. While he misses the Palace match, his enforced rest leaves him fresher for Liverpool’s crucial Champions League clash with Galatasaray next week.
Slot will hope the forward responds in the right way. Ekitike already has five goals in eight games for the Reds, including the Merseyside derby winner, and could quickly win back goodwill with more decisive contributions.
Liverpool fans need only remember Darwin Núñez’s redemption arc: sent off for a rash headbutt on his Anfield debut, Núñez bounced back to become a key figure. Ekitike now has the same chance to turn a costly mistake into the start of a comeback story.
