A moment of “stupidity” from Liverpool’s Hugo Ekitike has opened the door for fellow striker Alexander Isak.
Ekitike, who has been in phenomenal form since his arrival, scored the winning goal in Liverpool’s 2-1 Carabao Cup victory over Southampton.
However, his celebration, removing his shirt, earned him a second yellow card, resulting in a red card and a suspension for the upcoming Premier League match against Crystal Palace.
The dismissal came as a surprise, given Ekitike’s importance to the team.
Manager Arne Slot called the act “stupid,” while Ekitike himself apologized on social media, admitting that “the emotion got the better of me.”
This suspension creates a prime opportunity for record signing Alexander Isak.
The Swedish striker has had his playing time carefully managed but is now in line to make his first Premier League start.
