Hugo Ekitike issues apology to Liverpool fans after red card in Southampton win

Liverpool striker Hugo Ekitike has shared an apology to Liverpool fans on his Instagram story after being sent off in their Carabao Cup triumph over Southampton

Hugo Ekitike took to social media to offer up an apology to Liverpool fans after he was shown a second yellow card for removing his shirt as he celebrated the Reds’ late winning goal against Southampton in the Carabao Cup.

The Frenchman, 23, had already been booked prior to scoring what turned out to be Liverpool’s winning goal in a 2-1 triumph in the 85th minute. And he was subsequently sent for an early shower by referee Thomas Bramall as the celebrations died down.

Ekitike’s red card means he is now suspended for Liverpool’s Premier League fixture against Crystal Palace this weekend, leaving Arne Slot with a selection dilemma. And after the Dutchman and Ekitike’s team-mate, Andy Robertson, both conceded his sending off was foolish, the striker shared an apology for getting carried away.

In a post on his Instagram story, Ekitike said: “I was so excited tonight to help the team achieve another victory here in our home for my first Carabao Cup match… The emotion got the better of me tonight. My apologies to all the Red family. Thanks to the fans who always support as and to my teammates for secured this victory! #Reds.”

Ekitike’s apology came after Slot made it clear he was less than impressed with his striker’s actions. “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,” the Liverpool head coach said.

“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.

“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.”

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