25/09/2025

THURSDAY | SEPT 25, 2025

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Liverpool’s Hugo Ekitike (left) vies with Southampton’s Ryan Manning during the English League Cup match. – AFPPIC

Tale of two strikers Ekitike scores winner and sees red, Isak opens Reds account with a slick performance

A LEXANDER ISAK scored his first goal for Liverpool while Hugo Ekitike was sent off after bagging a late winner as the hosts beat second tier Southampton 2-1 at Anfield to reach the fourth round of the League Cup yesterday. The Swede found the net in the 43rd minute of a scrappy match – 38 seconds after Southampton’s Adam Armstrong had hit the crossbar. Federico Chiesa provided the assist, as he did for Ekitike, cutting the ball back for Isak to slot coolly home. Southampton hit back through Shea Charles in the 76th after a glaring error by midfielder Wataru Endo but Ekitike, who replaced Isak at halftime, maintained Liverpool’s 100% start to the season with a winner five minutes from time. He was then sent off for a second yellow after removing his shirt in celebration. “I’d be very surprised if he does it again,” Andy Robertson, captain of a completely changed side from last weekend, told Sky Sports television. “It’s two silly bookings to pick up and obviously we miss him for Saturday. “It’s silly from his part but he’s only young and he’ll learn from it.” Isak missed a golden opportunity in the first minute of only his second start and recognised he needed playing time after a protracted transfer saga. “It’s still early, a new club and new teammates, but I feel good,” he said. “I think with all the games I get I’m only going to get better.” Liverpool manager Arne Slot told Sky Sports : “I think it’s also stupid if you haven’t had a yellow card yet. “Maybe I’m a bit old fashioned, maybe a bit old school, but I did score a few goals – not at this

level – as well. If I outplayed three players, which I never did, and hit it in the top corner maybe you can ‘this is all about me!’ “If I had to score a goal like he did tonight, I would’ve turned around and walked up to Federico Chiesa to say: ‘It’s all about you Federico, great assist, great run. I didn’t have to do a lot.’ Maybe that’s me being a bit old school. “It was stupid and not smart in every sense. The good thing was that his team-mates helped him because we brought the win over the line. If the infromation is correct, he’s now suspended for Saturday. That is far from ideal.” While Ekitike’s fellow striker Isak was also asked about the incident by ITV and said: “Yeah I’m sure he just wasn’t aware of being on a yellow in that moment. “It can sometimes be emotional when you score a goal in that moment. Of course it’s unfortunate.” Ekitike later apologised on Instagram : “The emotion got the better of me tonight,” he said. “My apologies to all the Red family…” League leaders Liverpool, with a 100% record so far this season, have a tricky away trip to unbeaten Crystal Palace next in the league. Slot fielded a completely changed starting lineup yesterday from the side that played Everton on Saturday, with Isak starting and scoring his first goal for the club. “It wasn’t our best performance, which probably has a lot to do with players that haven’t played for a long time or for the first time,” he said. The manager said Isak would get increasing game time, with Liverpool trying to build him up faster than usual, but did not expect him to be fully up to speed until after the next international break. – Reuters/Express Newspapers

Liverpool’s Hugo Ekitike is shown a red card by the referee. – REUTERSPIC

Liek Hou open to reconciliation

- Story on page 31

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