Liverpool vs Southampton: 'I call it stupid' says Arne Slot about Hugo Ekitike's red card in the EFL Cup

For years, we were habituated with players celebrating their goals by taking their shirt off. It added an extra bite to proceedings and for some players, it was the best way to vent their emotions. However, since 2004, FIFA introduced the rule which makes a shirtless celebration after goal-scoring to be a yellow card offence. While the reasons behind the move ranged from maintaining sponsor visibility to time-wasting, the decision received polarised reactions. However, that rule still stays and if Hugo Ekitike had forgotten it for a split second, he was reminded of it by the harshest way possible.

During Liverpool's EFL Cup encounter against Southampton on Tuesday (September 23), Ekitike didn't start the game as the club's latest signing Alexander Isak was chosen to start as the forward for the fixture. However, the Swedish striker was subbed off at half-time after having scored a goal just minutes before the break. Manager Arne Slot opted to ease Isak into the environment and hence, brought on Ekitike for the second half. Southampton showed great character to bounce back in the contest and they duly equalised in the 76th minute through Shea Charles to infuse life into the contest.

Ekitike, however, decided to take matters into his own hands and capitalised on a brilliant assist from Federico Chiesa's assist (his second of the game) to put Liverpool back on top in the closing minutes of the game. Now, Ekitike had picked up a very silly yellow card not too long ago when he kicked the ball away in frustration. Little did he know that he would do something sillier to get his second yellow card of the game. Seconds after scoring his goal, Ekitike's raging emotions got the better of him and he took his shirt off to gesture to the crowd, thereby earning his second yellow card of the game. That, of course, meant a red card and he was sent off.

Liverpool did manage to see off the remainder of the fixture to earn a thrilling win but Slot didn't mince any words at the press conference. The Dutch man was clearly angry and frustrated, and the visuals showed it too as he saw Ekitike go past him at the touchline into the dressing room. At the press conference, Slot admitted that the Frenchman's incident was a 'stupid' one.

"Needless, not smart," said Slot at the press conference after the game.

"You call it stupid. I call it stupid by the way as well. I told him as well and to numerous media already."

The Ekitike goal, as good as it was, couldn't have been possible without Chiesa's sensational assist. Slot pointed it out too, and felt that it wasn't a wondergoal for Ekitike to celebrate in such outrageous fashion, nor was it a big game like a final or semifinal. Slot feels that if anything, it was Chiesa who needed to hog the limelight for this goal.

"I told him that if you score in the Champions League final in the 87th minute after outplaying three players and hitting it in the top corner I can maybe understand. He is like, 'This is all about me, what did I do'.

"But I am old-fashioned, I'm 47 and old. I never played at this level but did score a few goals and if I scored a goal like this, I'd have turned around and walked up to Federico Chiesa and said, 'This goal is all about you, this is not about me'.

The suspension rules say that the player will have to miss the next domestic game and that means that Ekitike will not be part of Liverpool's Premier League clash against Crystal Palace. He will, however, be available for the next Champions League clash.