2 hours ago
2
Liverpool's recent acquisition, Hugo Ekitike, has made a flying start since his transfer from Eintracht Frankfurt this summer.
The 23-year-old French striker has already found the back of the net in the Community Shield and scored three times in his first five Premier League outings, including a debut goal against Bournemouth. Ekitike also clinched Liverpool's victory in the Carabao Cup third round against Southampton, but his celebration had repercussions.
The Frenchman scored late in the match, finishing neatly after a fine assist from Federico Chiesa, just minutes after Shea Charles of Southampton had levelled the score following Alexander Isak's opening goal. In his jubilation, Ekitike took off his shirt and waved it around, earning him a second yellow card - and an ensuing red - from referee Tom Bramall.
There was initial uncertainty about the consequences of his sending off, but it has now been confirmed that he will be absent for Liverpool's Premier League encounter with Crystal Palace.
Following Ekitike's dismissal, there were rumours that the suspension would only affect the Carabao Cup. This was initially proposed during ITV's live coverage of the match, before the commentary team later verified that he would indeed be suspended for the league match.
Players who collect yellow cards in the Carabao Cup will serve suspensions within that tournament, while red card bans carry over to all domestic competitions. This regulation also works in the opposite direction, as shown when Chelsea goalkeeper Robert Sanchez missed the Blues' Carabao Cup fixture at Lincoln following a red card he picked up in the Premier League.
European tournaments are exempt from these domestic regulations, however.
Ekitike is only serving a one-match suspension, as his dismissal came from two cautions, but even if he were handed a lengthier domestic ban, he would remain available to feature against Galatasaray in the Champions League on 30 September.
Ekitike's initial booking against Southampton came from his response to a refereeing call, and his second was equally avoidable. Arne Slot, speaking following Tuesday's match, offered no defence for his player.
"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 suspended, Slot may be forced to hand record signing Isak his debut Premier League start despite attempting to ease the Swede into first-team duties gradually.
Isak had not yet joined Liverpool when the team met Palace in the Community Shield in August and lost to the Eagles on penalties after a 2-2 stalemate.
English (US) ·