'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,/9j/2wBDAAYEBQYFBAYGBQYHBwYIChAKCgkJChQODwwQFxQYGBcUFhYaHSUfGhsjHBYWICwgIyYnKSopGR8tMC0oMCUoKSj/2wBDAQcHBwoIChMKChMoGhYaKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCj/wgARCAAHAAoDASIAAhEBAxEB/8QAFgABAQEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAUH/8QAFQEBAQAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAABAX/2gAMAwEAAhADEAAAAMmnhqv/xAAeEAACAQMFAAAAAAAAAAAAAAABAgMABAUGIlKR0f/aAAgBAQABPwCzw9q2KkgaCJ7gKWWcruQGhpxuMHZ8r//EABYRAQEBAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAEAAv/aAAgBAgEBPwA0i3//xAAYEQACAwAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAACAwABEf/aAAgBAwEBPwBqxtYFk//Z'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Former Chelsea midfielder has slammed Liverpool striker Hugo Ekitike for his sending off against Southampton on Tuesday. He called his decision-making "brainless" and pointed out that the team will now miss him on Saturday.
The Reds hosted Southampton at Anfield in the third round of the Carabao Cup on Tuesday. Alexander Isak gave them the lead in the 43rd minute and was subbed off at half-time for Hugo Ekitike. The striker received a yellow card in the 56th minute for throwing the ball in frustration for not getting a foul.
Shea Charles then equalized for the visitors in the 76th minute. Ekitike scored the winning goal for the hosts in the 85th minute. He took off his shirt during the celebration and was shown a second yellow card as a result. Craig Burley said on ESPN FC that the Liverpool man will get the "Ballon d'Or of Stupidity" and added:
Trending
"Every now and again, you see something that is utterly stupid and brainless, and this was one of them. Yes, they've signed Isak but he hasn't had much game time, Palace are a tough nut to crack, you want to have your best players ... and for something as stupid as this, Liverpool are going to miss him this weekend and its just bonkers.
"Has he got a wedding to go to? Stag weekend? Birthday party? something to go to this weekend. I just can't for the life of me understand how a player can forget he's been booked for dissent"
Ekitike will now serve his one-match suspension in the Reds' clash against Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park in the Premier League on September 27.
Liverpool boss Arne Slot reacts to Hugo Ekitike's sending off against Southampton
Arne Slot labeled Ekitike's sending off "stupid". He said that if he were in the Frenchman's position, he would've turned around to credit Federico Chiesa for the assist instead of taking his shirt off. In his post-match press conference, the Dutchman said (via Liverpoolfc.com):
"I told him [Ekitike] as well and I said it to numerous media already, if you score in a Champions League final in the 87th minute after outplaying three players and hitting it in the top corner, I can maybe understand that you’re like, ‘This is all about me, what did I do?’
"But I am old fashioned, I’m 47 and old maybe. I haven’t played at this level but I did score a few goals and if I would have scored a goal like this, I would have turned around and walked up to, in this situation, Federico Chiesa and said, ‘This goal is all about you, this is not about me.’ So, yeah, needless, not smart. You call it stupid. I call it stupid, by the way, as well.
Liverpool signed Ekitike from Eintracht Frankfurt for a reported fee of €80 million plus €12 million add-ons. He has scored five goals and provided one assist in eight appearances across competitions for them.
Following his suspension in the Premier League on Saturday, Ekitike will return to action in the UEFA Champions League on September 30. Liverpool will face Galatasaray at the Rams Park.
