Wayne Rooney says Liverpool player will be ‘devastated’ after what happened vs Southampton
Liverpool will not be pleased with every aspect of their 2-1 win over Southampton in the Carabao Cup on Tuesday.
Shea Charles’ second-half equaliser for the Saints ensured that Liverpool needed a late winner from Hugo Ekitike to beat their Championship opponents on 23 September.
The 23-year-old was sent off as he received a second yellow card for celebrating his goal by removing his shirt.
Former PGMOL chief Keith Hackett exclusively told Football Insider that Arne Slot should have done more to prevent Ekitike’s red card.
Liverpool star Hugo Ekitike got ‘carried away’ vs Southampton
Thanks to Ekitike’s suspension, Liverpool will have to face Crystal Palace without the former Eintracht Frankurt man, who has adjusted well to the Premier League.
The Reds are vying for their sixth consecutive top-flight win, having beaten Everton 2-1 in the Merseyside Derby last time out.
Speaking about Ekitike’s red card on the Wayne Rooney Show [26 September], the former Manchester United ace said: “You have the emotion of football and scoring goals, and sometimes when you score a goal, you do get carried away.
“And he’s probably forgot he was on a yellow card, I’d imagine, but it’s silly if you’re on a yellow card and you take your top off.
“All the players know that you get booked for taking your top off. So, yeah, it’s a silly one, I think. So he’s doing really well. And, you know, it’s probably a shootout for him and (Alexander) Isak to play in it.
“And he’s giving Isak the chance to come in and try and take his place at the minute, because he’s scoring goals and he’s in a good place.“
Alexander Isak has a major opportunity vs Crystal Palace
As alluded to by Rooney, Ekitike’s suspension will allow Isak to show his class against Crystal Palace on Saturday, 27 September.
| Hugo Ekitike stats | Premier League 2025/26 |
| Appearances | 5 |
| Expected goals (xG) | 1.78 |
| Goals | 3 |
| Expected assists (xA) | 0.20 |
| Assists | 1 |
Ekitike has notched three goals and one assist in five Premier League appearances for Liverpool, showing that he can be trusted over Isak, despite the former Newcastle United man’s previous experience in English football.
But now that the France international has been suspended, the ex-Magpies striker can stake his claim for a regular spot in Slot’s starting 11.
Meanwhile, Liverpool’s defensive options have been weakened by Giovanni Leoni’s ACL injury, leaving the Anfield club even more reliant on Virgil van Dijk and Ibrahima Konate.
Consequently, Liverpool could sign a new centre-back in the January transfer window, as they vie to retain their Premier League title.
Beating Palace on 27 September will not be an easy task for the Reds, as the Eagles have not been defeated in the top flight since April.