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Slot tells Liverpool star to learn to control his emotions after 'needless' incident

Originally posted on The Kop Times | By Siddharth Juyal | Last updated Sep 24, 2025 10:28 AM ET

Liverpool boss Arne Slot asks Hugo Ekitike to learn from his “needless” red card and control his emotions in the future. Ekitike scored the winning goal in the Carabao Cup third round victory over Southampton, but his celebrations did not last.

He had already received a yellow card and was sent off after taking his shirt off to celebrate the goal. However, the Reds managed to defend the late 86th-minute winning goal from the Frenchman to qualify for the next round.

Ekitike has started his Liverpool tenure strongly after signing from Bundesliga’s Eintracht Frankfurt for £79m during the summer transfer window. The 23-year-old has displayed immense confidence under pressure due to the threat to his position from Alexander Isak’s late deal.

Speaking in his post-match press conference (via Liverpoolfc.com), Slot advised Ekitike to control his emotions while playing for Liverpool. He said:

“That [Hugo Ekitike’s two yellow cards] was ‘needless’, yes. And it was ‘stupid’. Yeah, it was. The first one was already needless and to a certain extent stupid, because you have to control your emotions. I know how hard it is if you play Premier League or every league in the world, if you are a No.9 then the defender can almost do everything he wants, and then when you shirt-pull a little bit or you push him a little bit then you get a free-kick against you. But it’s always the best to control your emotions, and if you cannot control your emotions do it in a way that doesn’t lead to a yellow card. I think I said when I got my red card against Everton [last season], that is always stupid because you can show your emotions but if it leads to a yellow or a red card then it’s stupid. And that’s what happened in the first yellow.”

Due to the late suspension, Ekitike will miss the upcoming Premier League clash against Crystal Palace on Saturday. As Isak is still not ready to play the whole game for the Reds, the situation puts pressure on Slot.

The Dutchman replaced Isak with Ekitike in the second half of the game against the Saints, with a 1-0 scoreline. The Frenchman received his first yellow card in the 53^rd minute after showcasing frustration towards one referee’s call.

According to Fotmob, Ekitike made 88% accurate passes, with 19 touches, out of which seven came inside the opposition’s box. Furthermore, the Frenchman registered one successful dribble while making one interception and two recoveries as a defensive contribution.

Liverpool have many attacking options, despite their shortage of a natural number nine due to this unwanted red card. With Federico Chiesa showcasing impressive form, the Italian could get a chance to start as the makeshift number nine against Palace.

This article first appeared on The Kop Times and was syndicated with permission.

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