Arne Slot slams Hugo Ekitike as Liverpool striker shown 'needless' red card for 'stupid' celebration

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Sport | Football

The Frenchman will be suspended for a crunch Premier League match against Crystal Palace

Cold shoulder: Arne Slot was not impressed by Hugo Ekitike’s antics

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Arthur Ferridge2 minutes ago

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Liverpool boss Arne Slot branded Hugo Ekitike ‘stupid’ after he was sent off for removing his shirt while celebrating a late winner over Southampton.

Ekitike’s 85th-minute strike rescued Liverpool from facing a dreaded penalty shootout, securing a 2-1 win over the Saints, but his celebrations were cut short as he was shown a second yellow card for taking his shirt off while celebrating.

The resultant suspension will see Ekitike ruled out of Liverpool’s weekend trip to face Crystal Palace.

Slot turned a cold shoulder to the Frenchman as he left the pitch, and speaking post-match, the Dutchman made no attempt to hide his frustration.

“It was needless and stupid,” he told reporters.

"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.' Needless, not smart, you call it stupid, I called it stupid right away as well."

Alexander Isak opened the scoring at Anfield with his first Liverpool goal, and Slot had kinder words for the Swede than he did for Ekitike.

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“It’s nice because it’s only six or seven days ago when he made his debut,” he said.

“He’s the British record signing, so there will be pressure on if he takes a while to score a goal – no-one says this, so I repeat it!