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Liverpool's Hugo Ekitike has been an instant hit at Anfield since his summer move from Eintracht Frankfurt, but has hit his first bump in the road in the form of a first red card in Liverpool colours. The striker, 23, made his mark in the Community Shield and has already netted three goals in his first five Premier League matches for his new club.
Ekitike, who had a spell at Paris Saint-Germain earlier in his career, also played a crucial role in Liverpool's Carabao Cup third round triumph over Southampton. Ekitike seized the moment late in the game, slotting home after Shea Charles had levelled the score following Alexander Isak's initial goal, but the celebration which followed that goal could prove costly.
In his excitement, the Frenchman removed his shirt and held it aloft, resulting in a second yellow card - and consequently a red - from referee Tom Bramall. And, despite being sent off in a different competition, Ekitike will receive his punishment in the Premier League.
Immediately after Ekitike's red card, there was a suggestion the suspension would only apply to the Carabao Cup. This was even raised during ITV's match coverage before the commentary team later confirmed that he would indeed be suspended for league play.
Players who receive suspensions for accumulating yellow cards in the Carabao Cup will serve their bans within that tournament, though red card suspensions carry across all competitions. This principle operates in both directions, as demonstrated when Chelsea goalkeeper Robert Sanchez was absent from the Blues' Carabao Cup fixture at Lincoln following a red card received against Manchester United in the Premier League.
None of this applies to continental competitions, though. While Ekitike faces just a single match ban due to his dismissal resulting from two bookings, even a lengthier domestic suspension wouldn't prevent him from appearing against Galatasaray in the Champions League on September 30.
Ekitike's first caution arose from his response to a referee's decision. While that incident was avoidable if explainable, his second booking was undoubtedly unnecessary.
Following Tuesday's match, Arne Slot offered no defence for his player's conduct. "The first one (yellow card) was already needless and to a certain extent stupid because you have to control your emotions," Slot said.
"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. 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."
With Ekitike out of the picture due to suspension, Slot might be compelled to give record signing Isak his first Premier League start, despite initially intending to gradually introduce the Swede into action. Liverpool drew 2-2 with Palace in the Community Shield when the sides last met, with the Eagles winning on penalties, but Isak's big-money move came weeks after that game.
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