Hugo Ekitike in moment of stupidity as Liverpool striker sent off vs Southampton

Hugo Ekitike picked up a bizarre red card during Liverpool's League Cup clash with Southampton on Tuesday night. The forward has started life at Liverpool in emphatic fashion, with Ekitike netting his fifth goal for the club during the third round tie.

Such was the Frenchman's excitement after scoring against the Championship outfit, Ekitike removed his shirt and held it up to the adoring Anfield crowd. The only issue was, Ekitike had already been booked earlier in the contest and had therefore committed a second bookable offence.

Ekitike's team-mates were quick to realise what the forward had done, with Jeremie Frimpong rushing over to the former Eintracht Frankfurt ace to inform him. It was too little too late though, as the referee was holding the yellow and subsequent red card in his hand, with Ekitike forced to head for an early shower.

It will likely pose a problem for Liverpool boss Arne Slot, given the Reds face a tricky test away to Southampton at the weekend. Liverpool were beaten by Palace in the Community Shield earlier this year, with Ekitike having impressed for Slot's side in the result. What's more, given that Alexander Isak doesn't appear to be ready for 90 minutes of action just yet, Slot might be forced into a rethink ahead of his side's trip to Selhurst Park.

When quizzed about whether he'll be ready to step in from the off on Saturday, Isak explained: "I feel good. With every game I play it is very helpful and gets me in better shape. It is difficult to say. It is a mixture of fitness wise and football wise. I feel good and feel I am in a shape to make a difference...

"I should have scored earlier as well. It is part of being a striker, you miss some and score some. The most important thing is to shake it off and be ready for the next one. I feel confident in myself that things will work out and when I get chances I will put them away."

Luckily for Ekitike, Liverpool saw the rest of the game out with 10 men, meaning his late strike remained the game's decisive goal. Isak had been on target earlier in the match for the home side, only for Shea Charles to net a second-half equaliser, forcing Liverpool to go in search of an opener.

Reacting to the win after the match, Slot told ITV Sport: "A late win indeed. Not our best performance which is what you can expect if you play a completely new team. So many players who haven't played for a long time. There were also positives to say, Giorgi Mamardashvili had a very good game, Giovanni Leoni had a very good game, Federicho Chiesa a very good game. A first goal from Alexander and another goal from Hugo."