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It was a story of three forwards for Liverpool in the Carabao Cup as it defeated Southampton 2-1 on Tuesday evening through strikes from Alexander Isak and Hugo Ekitike. Both goals were served up on a silver platter by Federico Chiesa.
It proved another evening of late theatrics for the Reds at Anfield, this time securing a winner in the dying moments via Ekitike, whose simple finish materialised after exquisite control from Chiesa to present his teammate with the opportunity to decide the contest.
Ekititke was immediately dismissed for removing his shirt in celebration whilst already carrying a yellow card, having taken Isak's place for the second period after the striker had broken his duck in the 43rd minute. Here is what the national media made of the encounter.
Paul Joyce - The Times - "It was always going to require something remarkable to wrestle the spotlight away from Alexander Isak's first Liverpool goal. Hugo Ektike duly obliged, though not in the manner he would have hoped.
"The French striker had replaced Isak at the interval and maintained Liverpool's slew of late winners this season to see off a plucky Southampton side. Yet having already been booked for punching the ball away, the forward's decision to whip off his shirt in celebration in the 86th minute meant the referee, Thomas Bramall, brought his night to a premature, and farcical, close with a red card.
"To say Arne Slot looked less than impressed would be an understatement. The forward will miss the next game against Crystal Palace on Saturday.
"Progress to the Carabao Cup fourth round was still achieved but, until then, the focus was drawn to Isak and no-one can dispute he is not prepared to put in the hard yards in order to be a success."
Rich Jolly - The Independent - "And to think some worried Hugo Ekitike would be overshadowed by Alexander Isak at Anfield. On the night the striker opened his account for his new club, Ekitike contrived to upstage his striking rival, extending Liverpool's extraordinary record of late deciders and yet drawing cutting criticism from his manager.
"For the sixth time in seven games, Liverpool won late on; for the fourth time after it had lost a lead. And yet this drama at the death against Southampton took on a novel twist as Ekitike tapped in a centre from the excellent Federico Chiesa and promptly brought his own contribution to an end. Already booked for punching the ball away in a display of dissent, he collected a second yellow card for taking his shirt off in celebration.
"The Frenchman has made a fine impression in his brief Liverpool career but this, as Arne Slot was swift to say, was sheer stupidity.
"With his watching brief in the second half, the Swede had further evidence of Liverpool's ability to make life difficult for themselves. The winning habit remains but so, too, does an inability to look completely convincing. Slot was critical. 'I was happy with a few performances but far from happy with a few others,' he said. The guilty will know who they are."
Dominic King - Daily Mail - "It was a Cup night, so did you expect anything other than surprises? Nothing ever goes to plan at Anfield on occasions such as these and so, again, it was true.
"There was a surprise for Alexander Isak, who found himself being ordered to do more running at half-time when he thought the sanctuary of the changing room beckoned. There was a surprise for Will Still, who saw his Southampton team leave its patchy form well behind.
"But the biggest shock was reserved for Arne Slot, who watched in disbelief as Hugo Etikite saved the day in one moment then, in the next, presented his manager with an unnecessary headache from two actions that even his team-mates regarded as preposterous.
"You have to go some to get criticism after plundering a late winner but for Ekitike to put a blemish on all his early outstanding work with two – wholly avoidable – bookings and earn himself a suspension for Saturday's trip to Crystal Palace left Slot dumbfounded."
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