Arne Slot's private message to Hugo Ekitike, Liverpool star's apology, Alexander Isak chance

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It wasn't just Slot who was stunned by the striker's decision-making; teammate Jeremie Frimpong sprinted to the still-celebrating Ekitike with a concerned look, before telling the striker that his actions will result in an early shower.

Here, Echo Football has wrapped up all the reaction surrounding Ekitike's red card, including Slot's private message for the star, a much-needed apology and the selection drama this has opened up for the Reds.

Arne Slot has been left incensed by Ekitike's actions, branding both his yellow cards as "stupid" and "needless".



The Reds boss was furious after the game, despite Liverpool making it to the fourth round.

When asked about Ekitike's sending off, the Dutchman said: "The first one (yellow card) was already needless and to a certain extent stupid because you have to control your emotions, and I know how hard it is if you play in the Premier League and you are a number nine then the defender can almost do everything he wants, and when you push him a little bit you get a free-kick against you.

"But it is always the best to control your emotions, and if you can't then do it in a way that doesn't lead to a yellow card.

So I think I said when I got my red card against Everton that's always stupid because you can show your emotions but if it leads to a yellow or red then it's, to a certain extent, stupid."

Slot went on to reveal his private conversation with the Liverpool star, claiming that he would have been fine if Ekitike had celebrated this way if it had been a much more high-stakes game for the club.

He said: "Then I told him that if you score in a Champions League final in the 87th minute after beating three players and hitting it in the top corner I can maybe understand you say 'it's all about me'.

"But I'm old fashioned, I'm 47, I'm old, and I haven't played at this level but I did score a few goals, and if I scored a goal like this I would have turned around and walked up to Federico Chiesa and say 'this goal is all about you, this is not about me'.

"So yeah, needless, not smart, you call it stupid and I call it stupid."

The French striker issued a personal apology to his teammates and supporters following his Southampton dismissal.

Reflecting on the dim ending to an otherwise exciting game at Anfield, the veteran defender said: "I think scoring a goal is always emotional and you always get that emotion.

"But he's obviously just forgotten he's been booked.

However, the Liverpool boss may not have to throw his star forward straight into the starting XI against Crystal Palace on Saturday.

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Slot said: "Yeah, it’s nice because it’s only six or seven days ago when he made his debut.