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Arne Slot looks on as Hugo Ekitike walks off the pitch having been shown a second yellow card for removing his shirt after scoring what proved to be Liverpool’s winner against Southampton (Image: Liverpool FC\/Liverpool FC via Getty Images)<\/p>\nA round-up of the national media’s coverage of Liverpool’s 2-1 win over Southampton in the Carabao Cup<\/p>\n
10:17, 24 Sep 2025Updated 22:18, 24 Sep 2025<\/p>\n
Arne Slot looks on as Hugo Ekitike walks off the pitch having been shown a second yellow card for removing his shirt after scoring what proved to be Liverpool’s winner against Southampton (Image: Liverpool FC\/Liverpool FC via Getty Images)<\/p>\n
It was a tale of three strikers for Liverpool in the Carabao Cup as they beat Southampton 2-1 on Tuesday night via goals from Alexander Isak and Hugo Ekitike. Both of which were put on a plate by Federico Chiesa.<\/p>\n
It was another night of late drama for the Reds at Anfield<\/a>, this time forcing a winner in the closing stages via Ekitike<\/a>, whose tap-in came about after a sumptuous control from Chiesa<\/a> to give his team-mate the chance to settle the game.<\/p>\n Ekititke was promptly sent off for removing a shirt in celebration while already on a booking, having replaced Isak<\/a>, who opened his account in the 43rd minute, for the second half.<\/p>\n READ MORE: Southampton boss reveals what Hugo Ekitike predicted before Liverpool kick off – ‘Incredibly annoying’<\/a> OPINION<\/p>\n The ECHO, as ever, was on hand to oversee the game. You can find our full complement of match coverage here: verdict<\/a>; player ratings<\/a>; analysis<\/a>; live blog<\/a>; Arne Slot reaction<\/a>; Will Still on Ekitike<\/a>.<\/p>\n Our colleagues from the national media were also on hand to run the rule over proceedings and give their considered takes. Here’s what they made of it after a sixth successive Liverpool<\/a> win.<\/p>\n The Times’ Paul Joyce<\/a> writes: “It was always going to require something remarkable to wrestle the spotlight away from Alexander Isak\u2019s first Liverpool goal. Hugo Ektike duly obliged, though not in the manner he would have hoped.<\/p>\n “The French striker had replaced Isak at the interval and maintained Liverpool\u2019s slew of late winners this season to see off a plucky Southampton side. Yet having already been booked for punching the ball away, the forward\u2019s decision to whip off his shirt in celebration in the 86th minute meant the referee, Thomas Bramall, brought his night to a premature, and farcical, close with a red card.<\/p>\n “To say Arne Slot<\/a> looked less than impressed would be an understatement. The forward will miss their next game against Crystal Palace on Saturday.<\/p>\n “Progress to the Carabao Cup fourth round was still achieved but, until then, the focus was drawn to Isak and no-one can dispute he is not prepared to put in the hard yards in order to be a success.”<\/p>\n Rich Jolly<\/a>, of The Independent, pens: “And to think some worried Hugo Ekitike would be overshadowed by Alexander Isak at Anfield. On the night the \u00a3125m man opened his account for his new club, Ekitike contrived to upstage his striking rival, extending Liverpool\u2019s extraordinary record of late deciders and yet drawing cutting criticism from his manager.<\/p>\n “For the sixth time in seven games, Liverpool won late on; for the fourth time after they had lost a lead. And yet this drama at the death against Southampton took on a novel twist as Ekitike tapped in a centre from the excellent Federico Chiesa and promptly brought his own contribution to an end. Already booked for punching the ball away in a display of dissent, he collected a second yellow card for taking his shirt off in celebration.<\/p>\n “The Frenchman has made a fine impression in his brief Liverpool career but this, as Arne Slot was swift to say, was sheer stupidity.<\/p>\n “With his watching brief in the second half, the Swede had further evidence of Liverpool\u2019s ability to make life difficult for themselves. Their winning habit remains but so, too, does an inability to look completely convincing. Slot was critical. ‘I was happy with a few performances but far from happy with a few others,’ he said. The guilty will know who they are.<\/p>\n “And a starting 11 costing some \u00a3250m \u2013 even if half of that went on Isak \u2013 and replacements who came for another \u00a3120m were pegged back by a team 19th in the Championship, winless since the opening day and with a mere three victories in 52 league matches.”<\/p>\n Over on the Daily Mail’s pages, Dominic King<\/a> also focused on Ekitike’s hero-to-zero moment, writing: “It was a Cup night, so did you expect anything other than surprises? Nothing ever goes to plan at Anfield<\/a> on occasions such as these and so, again, it was true.<\/p>\n “There was a surprise for Alexander Isak, who found himself being ordered to do more running at half-time when he thought the sanctuary of the changing room beckoned. There was a surprise for Will Still, who saw his Southampton team leave their patchy form well behind.<\/p>\n “But the biggest shock was reserved for Arne Slot, who watched in disbelief as Hugo Etikite saved the day in one moment then, in the next, presented his manager with an unnecessary headache from two actions that even his team-mates regarded as preposterous.<\/p>\n “You have to go some to get criticism after plundering a late winner but for Ekitike to put a blemish on all his early outstanding work with two \u2013 wholly avoidable \u2013 bookings and earn himself a suspension for Saturday\u2019s trip to Crystal Palace left Slot dumbfounded.”<\/p>\n WELCOME to the second edition of Blood Red<\/a> \u2013 your new monthly publication from the ECHO covering everything you need to know about what\u2019s happening at Liverpool FC.<\/p>\n This month, our focus is on Europe as Liverpool’s Champions League campaign kicks off with the Reds looking to bring home European Cup number 7. As well as a pull-out fixtures guide to the group phase, we profile every other club in the competition.<\/p>\n Our writers cover Arne Slot\u2019s side all season long, home, away and abroad, seven days a week, and this special second edition<\/a> of Blood Red is full of their in-depth features, analysis and comment.<\/p>\n There’s also an interview with Voice of Anfield George Sephton who looks back at his time at the club, we review the big tactical talking points of the season’s opening games, and we preview the next month of action as the Champions combine their bid to defend their Premier League crown with the start of their mission for Champions League glory.<\/p>\n![\"\"\/](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/0_GettyImages-2236983920.jpg\")
<\/p>\n![\"Author](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/1753506908_114_0_MeeeePNG.png\")
Paul Gorst<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/1757911269_89_0_Liverpool-Blood-Red-2jpeg.jpg\")
A new monthly print edition for all LFC fans, September edition on sale now<\/p>\n