‘It wasn’t smart’ – Arne Slot reveals how Liverpool have dealt with Hugo Ekitike over ‘stupid’ red card

Arne Slot has declared Liverpool striker Hugo Ekitike will face no internal punishment after his ‘stupid’ red card against Southampton. Ekitike was sent off immediately after scoring a late winner for the Reds in their 2-1 Carabao Cup victory at Anfield on Tuesday night. In bizarre circumstances, the striker celebrated and then walked straight down the tunnel after being given his marching orders. It came after he took his shirt off following his winning goal, appearing to forget he had already received a yellow card. The punishment for removing a shirt in celebration is a yellow too, meaning he was shown a second and sent off. Slot raged about Ekitike’s antics post-match and labelled the incident ‘stupid’ and ‘needless’ considering he is now suspended. The Frenchman will miss Liverpool‘s clash against Crystal Palace on Saturday as his ban crosses over into the Premier League. Slot has been open in his disappointment of Ekitike’s actions, but has declared the player has avoided any further internal sanctions. What has Arne Slot said about Hugo Ekitike? When asked on Friday whether he had been disciplined, Slot replied: “Disciplined means a fine, which he didn’t get. “It wasn’t very smart what he did and what he recognised himself immediately straight away. “He said sorry straight away to his teammates, he is young and players of all ages make mistakes and that’s what he did in this situation as well. “But we all make mistakes, you are allowed at this club to make a mistake without immediately getting fines. Slot has not fined Ekitike for his red card against Southampton in midweekGetty “He is a fantastic human being and I think if you talk to all the staff members and ask them the top three of the warmest people and most polite, I think he is in every staff member’s top three. Even if he wasn’t, he is able to make a mistake. “It wasn’t smart, it didn’t hurt us on Tuesday evening, but it might hurt us a bit more tomorrow. “The positive thing is, [Federico] Chiesa is showing himself at the moment so it’s a chance for him now to be on the bench and maybe play minutes with Hugo not being there.” Angry Arne Slot’s view on Ekititke has softened having slammed his mistake earlier in the week. Ranting post-match at Anfield, the Dutchman remarked: “Needless? Yes. And it was stupid. “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.’ The French striker apologised to his teammates for his strange sending offGetty “But I am old-fashioned, I’m 47 and old. I never played at this level. “But I did score a few goals and 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’. “It’s always the best to control your emotions. If you can’t, do it in a way that doesn’t lead to a yellow card.” Isak to step in? With Ekitike out, Liverpool only have Alexander Isak as a senior option to start up front against Crystal Palace. However, Slot has spoken openly about Isak and his lack of match fitness following his £125m summer move. Isak didn’t have a pre-season and is a way behind his Liverpool teammates physically after refusing to play for Newcastle. Hugo Ekitike's apology Ekitike released a public apology on social media in midweek. He wrote: “I was so excited to help the team achieve another victory here in our home for my first Carabao Cup match. “The emotion got the better of me. My apologies to all the Red family. “Thanks to the fans who always support us and to my teammates for this victory!” Isak is still not fit enough to play 90 minutes in Ekitike’s placeGetty It has meant he hasn’t played a full game for the Reds so far, having his minutes managed – and that isn’t expected to change. The Liverpool boss said: “He is able to play minutes, 90 is still dependent on the pace and intensity of the game. “Also, for the long term, it may be a stupid hit to bring him to 90 [minutes] and we brought him too far over the line. “So, it’s not smart to play 90 yet. In pre-season now and then players go 60/70, some clubs do 90, our clubs do 60 or 70.”

Musventurenal

0 1

‘It wasn’t smart’ – Arne Slot reveals how Liverpool have dealt with Hugo Ekitike over ‘stupid’ red card

Arne Slot has declared Liverpool striker Hugo Ekitike will face no internal punishment after his ‘stupid’ red card against Southampton.

Ekitike was sent off immediately after scoring a late winner for the Reds in their 2-1 Carabao Cup victory at Anfield on Tuesday night.

In bizarre circumstances, the striker celebrated and then walked straight down the tunnel after being given his marching orders.

It came after he took his shirt off following his winning goal, appearing to forget he had already received a yellow card.

The punishment for removing a shirt in celebration is a yellow too, meaning he was shown a second and sent off.

Slot raged about Ekitike’s antics post-match and labelled the incident ‘stupid’ and ‘needless’ considering he is now suspended.

The Frenchman will miss Liverpool‘s clash against Crystal Palace on Saturday as his ban crosses over into the Premier League.

Slot has been open in his disappointment of Ekitike’s actions, but has declared the player has avoided any further internal sanctions.

What has Arne Slot said about Hugo Ekitike?

When asked on Friday whether he had been disciplined, Slot replied: “Disciplined means a fine, which he didn’t get.

“It wasn’t very smart what he did and what he recognised himself immediately straight away.

“He said sorry straight away to his teammates, he is young and players of all ages make mistakes and that’s what he did in this situation as well.

“But we all make mistakes, you are allowed at this club to make a mistake without immediately getting fines.

Slot has not fined Ekitike for his red card against Southampton in midweek

“He is a fantastic human being and I think if you talk to all the staff members and ask them the top three of the warmest people and most polite, I think he is in every staff member’s top three. Even if he wasn’t, he is able to make a mistake.

“It wasn’t smart, it didn’t hurt us on Tuesday evening, but it might hurt us a bit more tomorrow.

“The positive thing is, [Federico] Chiesa is showing himself at the moment so it’s a chance for him now to be on the bench and maybe play minutes with Hugo not being there.”

Angry Arne

Slot’s view on Ekititke has softened having slammed his mistake earlier in the week.

Ranting post-match at Anfield, the Dutchman remarked: “Needless? Yes. And it was stupid.

“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.’

The French striker apologised to his teammates for his strange sending off

“But I am old-fashioned, I’m 47 and old. I never played at this level.

“But I did score a few goals and 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’.

“It’s always the best to control your emotions. If you can’t, do it in a way that doesn’t lead to a yellow card.”

Isak to step in?

With Ekitike out, Liverpool only have Alexander Isak as a senior option to start up front against Crystal Palace.

However, Slot has spoken openly about Isak and his lack of match fitness following his £125m summer move.

Isak didn’t have a pre-season and is a way behind his Liverpool teammates physically after refusing to play for Newcastle.

Hugo Ekitike's apology

Ekitike released a public apology on social media in midweek.

He wrote: “I was so excited to help the team achieve another victory here in our home for my first Carabao Cup match.

“The emotion got the better of me. My apologies to all the Red family.

“Thanks to the fans who always support us and to my teammates for this victory!”

Isak is still not fit enough to play 90 minutes in Ekitike’s place

It has meant he hasn’t played a full game for the Reds so far, having his minutes managed – and that isn’t expected to change.

The Liverpool boss said: “He is able to play minutes, 90 is still dependent on the pace and intensity of the game.

“Also, for the long term, it may be a stupid hit to bring him to 90 [minutes] and we brought him too far over the line.

“So, it’s not smart to play 90 yet. In pre-season now and then players go 60/70, some clubs do 90, our clubs do 60 or 70.”