Will Liverpool striker Hugo Ekitike be banned for Crystal Palace match?
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Liverpool travel to Crystal Palace in the Premier League this weekend but will do so without Hugo Ekitike.
The Frenchman has made a good start to life at Anfield having scored four goals in six appearances since his £69million switch from Eintracht Frankfurt.
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Ekitike took off his shirt after netting Liverpool's winner against Southampton despite already having being bookedCredit: Getty
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The Frenchman was subsequently given his marching ordersCredit: Getty
His first goal for Liverpool came against Crystal Palace in August’s Community Shield at Wembley and since then it has been lift off for the forward.
But Ekitike will not get the opportunity to face the Eagles again this weekend following his red card in Tuesday’s Carabao Cup clash win over Southampton.
The 23-year-old replaced Alexander Isak at the start of the second half and was booked soon after his introduction for throwing the ball in the air after being penalised for a foul.
He was branded a second yellow card immediately after netting an 85th-minute winner for taking his shirt off in the celebrations that followed.
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Therefore, the two-time France international will miss Liverpool's clash with the FA Cup holders on Saturday.
With cards in League Cup games carried over to the Premier League fixtures, Ekitike will miss just one match.
After the match, head coach Arne Slot described Ekitike’s sending off as ‘needless’ and 'stupid'.
Slot told Sky Sports: "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?'.
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“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'.”
In an interview with talkSPORT, Slot added: "I can also say stupid, second yellow with a suspension that comes from it.
Conceding not the best goal you can concede."
Meanwhile, Ekitike pleaded for forgiveness in an Instagram post following the Carabao Cup clash.
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Arne Slot has less than impressed by Ekitike's antics against SouthamptonCredit: Getty
"I was so excited tonight to help the team achieve another victory here in our home for my first Carabao Cup match,” Ekitike wrote.
“The emotion got the better of me tonight.
"My apologies to all the Red family.
#Reds.”
The Swede’s lack of pre-season has left him on the back foot since arriving at Anfield on deadline day.
Slot has carefully managed his game time since swapping Newcastle for Liverpool having started just twice for the Reds.
His two starts have come in the Champions League against Atletico Madrid and the midweek win over Southampton in which he opened his account for his new club.
Isak has made just one appearance in the Premier League so far, coming off the bench in Saturday’s 2-1 win over Everton last Saturday.
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Isak netted his first goal for Liverpool as he builds towards full fitnessCredit: Getty
Slot’s decision to substitute Isak at half time against Southampton could prove to be a masterstroke with Ekitike suspended and the Swede could be called upon to complete as close to a 90-minute match as possible.
"I feel good," Isak told ITV after his display against the Saints.
"With every game I play it is very helpful and gets me in better shape."
Asked if he feels ready to start matches, he replied: "It is difficult to say.
It is a mixture of fitness-wise and football-wise.
"I feel good and feel I am in shape to make a difference."
The Premier League clash will take place on Saturday, September 27 with kick off at Selhurst Park scheduled for 3pm.
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Liverpool have won on nine of their last ten visits to Selhurst ParkCredit: Getty
The match will not be broadcast live in the UK due to the Saturday 3pm blackout but fans can follow the action on talkSPORT from 2:30pm on GameDay Live with Adrian Durham, Troy Deeney, Lianne Sanderson and Micky Gray
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