'Top three': Arne Slot says what Liverpool staff all think about Hugo Ekitike behind closed doors

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Hugo Ekitike has had his attitude called into question this week after picking up his first Liverpool red card.

The 23-year-old forgot himself in the midst of scoring the winning goal against Southampton on Tuesday, removing his shirt and collecting a second booking.

It was a disappointing and easily avoidable moment from Ekitike, but some of the reaction has been more than a little overboard.

Gabriel Agbonlahor accused Ekitike of disrespecting his teammates, while there were even rumours that the Liverpool striker could be fined two weeks’ wages.

The Liverpool head coach was himself critical of Ekitike immediately after the game.

However, speaking to the press on Friday morning, Slot said that he and staff at the Liverpool training ground could not think more highly of the Frenchman.

Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images

Ekitike’s red card has prompted a lot of discourse over the former Eintracht Frankfurt player, much of it negative.

Thankfully, Slot stemmed the tide of that on Friday morning, confirming that Ekitike had not been fined and providing an insight into how the France international is perceived by Liverpool staff.

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“If discipline means that I spoke to him, then that is discipline, but I don’t think this is disciplined, this means a fine, which he didn’t get,” said the Dutch coach.

“It wasn’t very smart what he did.

He’s young, players of all ages do make mistakes and that’s what he did in this situation.”

“We all make mistakes, you are allowed at this club to make a mistake without immediately getting fined and these kinds of things,” added Slot.

“He’s a fantastic human being.

I think if you talk to all the staff members and ask them a top three of the warmest and most polite people, I think he’d be in every staff member’s top three.

Even if he wasn’t a person like this he would be able to make a mistake.”

Ekitike’s moment of ill-discipline means that Liverpool will of course be without his services for Saturday’s Premier League fixture against Crystal Palace.

Slot has a couple of options in Ekitike’s absence, but perhaps the most popular would be to start Alexander Isak at Selhurst Park.

Asked for an update on how long Isak may be likely to play, Slot hinted that the Swede may be in line for a full Premier League debut.

“He’s able to make minutes again.

I still feel 90 depends on the pace and intensity of the game, it might be a bit too much,” said the 47-year-old.

“I don’t think it’s smart to play him 90 [minutes] yet, but he’s further into his pre-season now.