Ekitike apologises after red card as Slot rages; Redknapp calls moment a 'brain fart'

Hugo Ekitike apologised after a red card in a chaotic Carabao Cup night against Southampton that sparked fury from Liverpool manager Arne Slot on Tuesday night. The dismissal overshadowed what had been a bright start to his Anfield career, where he has already struck five times in eight appearances.

Introduced as a second-half substitute, the French forward was cautioned for dissent after reacting to a foul, and then, in the 85th minute, he scored what proved the decisive goal before celebrating by removing his shirt and earning a second yellow card. Slot brandished the red card and described the sequence as stupid and needless.

The manager's ire was evident after the dismissal, with Slot saying the first booking was needless and that players must control their emotions to avoid yellow cards; he also noted he would not even look at Ekitike as the teenager trudged off.

Ekitike later posted an apology to Liverpool fans on Instagram, saying the emotion of his first Carabao Cup appearance got the better of him and thanking supporters and team-mates for securing the victory.

In the Sky Sports studio, Jamie Redknapp described the moment as a 'brain fart' and questioned the reasoning behind the shirt‑pulling celebration. He said the forward had been outstanding since arriving at Liverpool, but that the red card would rule him out of the weekend trip to Crystal Palace. Redknapp also touched on the competition for the No. 9 role, suggesting that Alexander Isak's form could affect Ekitike's starting status going forward.

With five goals in eight appearances, Ekitike has been one of Liverpool's early-season positives. The result ensured progression in the competition but also left Slot facing the task of managing the squad through an upcoming league schedule, beginning with Palace, who arrive on the back of a 17-game unbeaten run.