Arne Slot: Ectitike Red Cards Are Stupid

JAKARTA - Liverpool manager Arne Slot said Hugo Ekitike's red card against Southampton, Wednesday, September 23, 2025, was unnecessary and stupid. The striker is now suspended for this weekend's match against Crystal Palace.

Ekitike came off the bench to score Liverpool's 2-1 win over Southampton at Anfield on Carabao Cub but received a second yellow card for taking off his shirt on a celebration.

The 23-year-old has been rewarded with a yellow card for protests and will consequently miss the away game on Saturday, September 27, 2025, to Selhurst Park.

"That's not necessary and stupid. The first is unnecessary and to some extent stupid because you have to control your emotions."

"I know how difficult it is to be the number 9 player, while defenders can do anything they please. Control emotions is always the best thing."

"If you can't, do it in a way that doesn't end in a yellow card. I told him, if you score in the Champions League final in the 87th minute after beating three players and throwing them into the top corner of the net, maybe I can understand he said that this was all about what had been done."

"However, I am ancient, I am 47 years old and old. I have never played at this level, but I scored several goals."

"If I score a goal like this, I will definitely turn around and approach Federico Chiesa then say that this goal is all about you, it's not about me."

"No need, not smart, you call him stupid, I also immediately call him stupid," Arne Slot said at a press conference after the game.

Liverpool were also hit when defender Giovanni Leoni picked up an injury at the end of the second half. The 18-year-old joined Parma in the summer and impressed on his debut against Saints.

"He's down because, for him, it doesn't feel good right away. This is something we have to evaluate."

"Usually things like this don't happen in five to 10 minutes. We have to wait until tomorrow to see how their condition is."

"Maybe we did an MRI scan (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) to find out more and see how serious his condition is."

"Usually, a player's emotions can tell a lot of things. I saw over the weekend at Eredivisie that a player was off the pitch crying. It turned out he was right. Let's hope for the best," said Arne Slot.

Meanwhile, Alexander Isak opened the scoring with his first goal for his new club as Liverpool advanced to the Fourth Round of the Carabao Cup.