Arne Slot clarifies red card fine reports for Hugo Ekitike

Below is a summary of the full article. Click here for the full version or go back to LFC Live.net.

Image Credits: Imago Images

Hugo Ekitike was sent off in Liverpool’s Carabao Cup third-round win against Southampton after receiving a second yellow card for removing his shirt in celebration of his late winner on Tuesday.

Ekitike came off the bench to tap home Federico Chiesa’s cross in the 85th minute, securing a 2-1 victory at Anfield.

However, having already been booked earlier in the match for dissent, Ekitike’s decision to lift his shirt immediately after scoring was costly.

Referee Thomas Bramall showed him a second yellow card and sent him off, meaning the striker will miss Liverpool’s Premier League trip to Crystal Palace on Saturday.

Manager Arne Slot was clearly frustrated after the game.

If you can’t, do it in a way that doesn’t lead to a yellow card.”

Slot added that if he had scored such a goal, rather than making it a personal celebration, he would have immediately credited his teammate Chiesa:

“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, maybe I can understand celebrating for yourself.

But if I scored like he did, I would have turned to Federico and said, ‘This goal is all about you, not me.’”

Ekitike later apologized on social media, saying emotion got the better of him and expressing regret to Liverpool fans for the needless dismissal.

Now Arne Slot has spoken further about the incident in his pre-Crystal Palace press conference, and addressed reports that Ekitike received a two-week wage fine:

“Disciplined means a fine, which he didn’t get.

He said sorry straight away to his team-mates, he is young and players of all ages make mistakes and you are allowed at this club to make a mistake without getting fined.”

“A fantastic human being, if you asked staff top 3 or warmest and polite, he would be in there, so he can make a mistake.”

“It wasn’t smart, it didn’t hurt us?