Liverpool star Hugo Ekitike was both the hero and the villain against Southampton in the League Cup on Tuesday night, after scoring a late winner over the Saints at Anfield to put them all but in the hat for the next round – before removing his shirt and receiving a second yellow.
Alexander Isak had put the Reds in front with his first goal since a Deadline Day move from Newcastle United, though youngster Shea Charles threatened to turn the game on its head with a 76th-minute equaliser. However, Ekitike struck late to quash any cupset. Yet the Frenchman’s red card will now pose questions over whether he’ll miss the next round, or the Premier League match against Crystal Palace this weekend.
Hugo Ekitike Will Serve One-Match
Ban This Weekend
Ultimately, Ekitike will indeed serve a ban for Liverpool in their upcoming Premier League clash at Selhurst Park, after being shown a second yellow card vs Southampton. League Cup rules dictate that although yellow cards carry over to the next round of the competition, red cards and suspension are served in the next match, regardless of competition.
ITV commentators were initially confused as to what he would miss by stating that he’d miss the next round of the tournament, before it was clarified that he would miss the trip to London. Had Ekitike not taken his shirt off in excitement at scoring what turned out to be the winner at Anfield, he would have only picked up a caution for Liverpool’s fourth round clash in the next round, with their opponents uncertain given the draw is on Wednesday evening.
That could give Palace a reprieve going into the weekend’s clash, as they aim to halt Arne Slot’s 100 percent record in the top-flight so far this season, though with the Swede scoring his first Reds goal in the first half before being substituted, he will at least somewhat be ready to play against the Eagles.
Ekitike has been in solid form for the Reds this season, scoring five goals from eight games in all competitions, including three in the Premier League. That run of starts won’t be the same against Palace, and Isak will be expected to play, which could actually put an end to his place so far this season as Liverpool’s first-choice striker. He will return for their Champions League game vs Galatasaray in midweek, as well as their Premier League clash in 11 days’ time vs Chelsea.
Liverpool have won every game in all competitions this season, barring the Community Shield vs Palace at Wembley at the start of August, and their win over Southampton keeps all hopes alive of winning a quadruple. They came close to doing so in the 2021/22 season, being mere minutes from winning a domestic treble before Manchester City won the Premier League, where they later collapsed after losing the Champions League final to Real Madrid just six days after their final day heartbreak