Liverpool star slammed by manager after avoidable dismissal

Manager Arne Slot did not mask his frustration, calling the dismissal “stupid” and insisting both bookings were unnecessary.

"Needless? Yes. And it was stupid,” Slot said, via Sky Sports. “The first one was already needless and to a certain extent, stupid, as you have got to control your emotions.

"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'.

"But I am old-fashioned, I'm 47 and old. I never played at this level but 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'."

The red card rules Ekitike out of Liverpool’s upcoming league clash with Crystal Palace, a suspension that will be frustrating for Slot given the congested fixture list and the club’s title ambitions.

There were positives from the game, however. Chiesa’s two assists highlighted his growing influence, Isak gained confidence with his first goal for the club, and Liverpool extended its perfect start to the season.

Yet concerns remain after 18-year-old defender Giovanni Leoni was stretchered off with what appeared to be a serious knee injury, raising fears of a lengthy layoff.

Liverpool advanced, but the night also offered a sobering reminder that in football, composure can be as valuable as goals. For Ekitike, a match-winning strike turned into a costly lesson.