Liverpool’s dramatic Carabao Cup third-round victory over Southampton wasn’t short of talking points — and Hugo Ekitike was right in the middle of the controversy.
The French striker came off the bench at Anfield, made an instant impact by scoring the winner, and then celebrated by removing his shirt. That emotional moment earned him a yellow card — his second of the match — which meant he was immediately sent off. 🟥
At first, there was confusion about when Ekitike would serve his suspension. Many wondered if the one-match ban would apply to the next round of the Carabao Cup or carry over into league action. The Premier League has since clarified the situation: the forward will sit out Liverpool’s upcoming clash with Crystal Palace in the Premier League.
The decision creates an interesting dilemma for manager Arne Slot. With Ekitike unavailable, more focus will turn toward record signing Alexander Isak. The Swedish striker, who pushed through a summer move from Newcastle, is still building up his fitness after months without competitive football.
Since joining Liverpool, Isak has featured in three games across six days, though Slot has been cautious with his minutes — subbing him off early against both Atletico Madrid and Southampton, while giving him a brief cameo in the Merseyside derby.
Slot himself admitted before the Everton match that the new signing wasn’t yet at full sharpness:
> “We need to see how they all feel. What I do know is that Alex felt his body maybe more than ever after the 60 minutes he played [against Atletico]. We’ll monitor his recovery and make the decision about the lineup from there.”
With Ekitike sidelined and Isak still working toward peak condition, Slot faces a tricky balancing act as Liverpool continue their push on multiple fronts.