Hugo Ekitike faces huge Liverpool fine after 'stupid' Southampton red card

Liverpool are likely to fine Hugo Ekitike two weeks' wages after being sent off against Southampton, according to reports. The striker received a second yellow card for removing his shirt while celebrating scoring the late winner.

Ekitike's first booking was for dissent after throwing the ball away in response to being penalised by referee Thomas Brammall. That came barely ten minutes after a half-time substitution saw the France international replace Alexander Isak, who opened the scoring at Anfield just before the break.

The latter now appears in line to start a first Premier League match for the Reds this weekend. Ekitike will serve a one-match ban while the team play Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park.

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That punishment is the only one currently imposed on the player, but further financial sanctions appear forthcoming. The Daily Mail reports that Liverpool will likely fine their summer signing two weeks' wages.

Sky Sport in Germany reported this summer that Ekitike would earn around €15-16 million annually. That works out at weekly wages of around £250,000.

Arne Slot was not at all impressed by the player's ill-discipline. The head coach delivered a scathing verdict during his post-match press conference.

"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.

"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 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 saying: 'It's all about me'.

"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 said: '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."

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