Hugo Ekitike given 'ludicrous' red card verdict as Alexander Isak braced for Liverpool chance

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Gary Lineker believes that Alexander Isak has been given a golden chance to cement his place in Liverpool's Premier League starting XI following Hugo Ekitike's "stupid" red card.

Ekitike, 23, is suspended for Saturday's trip to Crystal Palace after receiving two yellow cards during their 2-1 Carabao Cup win over Southampton on Tuesday.

Looking to impress after Isak started and scored his first Liverpool goal, Ekitike was shown his marching orders in the 86th minute at Anfield.

The former Eintracht Frankfurt man came on at half-time for Isak and was booked within eight minutes, punching the ball away after displaying his frustrations for committing a foul.

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Ekitike then turned from hero to villain late on, as he tapped home from close range to put Liverpool back in front before then getting a second yellow card for taking his shirt off.

Jeremie Frimpong looked at Ekitike in disgust, before Arne Slot slammed Liverpool's No.22 in his post-match press conference, claiming that he should have controlled his emotions.

With Ekitike, who has five goals in eight appearances this season, not available for Liverpool's clash against Palace, Isak is expected to make his full Premier League debut for the Reds.

And ex-Tottenham and Everton forward Lineker feels that Ekitike has given Isak the perfect opportunity to impress and keep his strike partner out of the side, at least in the short-term.

Speaking on The Rest Is Football, Lineker said: "I think the rules are daft, they are ludicrous.

But they all know that is a yellow card and if you have already had a yellow card you are going to go.

"I thought Slot was quite right, if it's a big Champions League game and if you have beaten three players and knocked it in the corner.

He said: "The first one (yellow card) was already needless and to a certain extent stupid because you have to control your emotions.

"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.

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