Liverpool vs Southampton 2–1: Ekitike’s Winner & Red Card Mar Reds’ Cup Night

Liverpool survive Southampton in Carabao Cup 3rd round — Isak scores, Ekitike nets winner but is sent off. Full recap, lineups, suspension, and implications.

Quick snapshot — Liverpool vs Southampton

Liverpool scraped through 2–1 against Southampton in the Carabao Cup (EFL Cup) third round at Anfield. Alexander Isak scored his first Liverpool goal, while Hugo Ekitike came off the bench to deliver a late winner — only to be sent off immediately afterward for removing his shirt.

Additionally, young defender Giovanni Leoni was stretchered off with an injury in his Liverpool debut.

Liverpool now move on to the fourth round of the Carabao Cup, but with a few key storyline threads to watch.

Background & build-up: Liverpool, the Cup, and Southampton

Liverpool & the Carabao Cup

Liverpool come into this tie as a club with strong ambitions in domestic cups. They were finalists in 2025 (losing to Newcastle) and won the tournament in 2024. This season, manager Arne Slot has managed a tight rotation to balance league, European, and cup commitments. Southampton, now in the Championship, represent a lower-division opponent but one with ambition to progress and cause an upset.

Hugo Ekitike: big signing, big expectations

Summer signing Hugo Ekitike arrived at Liverpool for a large fee (reportedly up to €95 million including add-ons) from Eintracht Frankfurt. He’s seen as a key attacking option for the Reds. His actions in this match (both the goal and the red card) immediately place him under scrutiny.

Lineups & tactical setups

Liverpool

• Slot rotated heavily — Isak started to lead the line; Leoni made his debut at centre back.
• Midfield saw a mix of youth and experience (Endo, Jones etc.)
• Federico Chiesa was deployed in a creative/wing role and played a pivotal role in both assists.

Southampton

• As a Championship side, Southampton came with a more compact, lower block, hoping to absorb pressure and counter.
• They were able to exploit errors and pressure in phases, producing an equalizer through Shea Charles.

 

How the match unfolded — narrative & turning points

First half — Liverpool take the lead

Liverpool had a somewhat messy first half but created chances. Isak struck in the 43rd minute after a defensive blunder and a Chiesa assist, giving the Reds a lead going into halftime.

Second half — fightback, then drama

Southampton struck back in the 76th minute via Shea Charles, capitalizing on an error from Wataru Endo at a defensive set piece.

Liverpool responded with a dramatic finish: Ekitike tapped in a Chiesa cross in the 85th minute to restore the lead. But jubilation turned sour — he removed his shirt in celebration while already booked, earning a second yellow and a red.

Meanwhile, Giovanni Leoni was stretchered off later in the match with what appeared to be a serious knee injury on his debut.

Liverpool had to see out the match with 10 men, but were able to hang on for the win.

Key players & moments

Alexander Isak

Scored his first goal for the club — an important milestone both for confidence and squad validation.

Federico Chiesa

Was a constant creative presence, assisting both goals — his involvement was central to Liverpool’s attacks. (Multiple sources)

Hugo Ekitike

Hero and villain: scored the go-ahead goal but was sent off seconds later; his highlights will be dissected widely.

Giovanni Leoni

A bright early impression on debut before being taken off injured; his condition is now a major concern.

[Note: Images are collected from Instagram]

 

Reactions: club, manager & media

• Arne Slot called Ekitike’s red card “needless and stupid,” lamenting the loss for Saturday’s league fixture.
• Ekitike himself posted a message apologizing: “The emotion got the better of me” and thanked teammates and fans for understanding.
• Many media outlets noted the juxtaposition: Liverpool needing the late goal to survive, but then undermining discipline with the red card.

Implications & aftermath

Suspension & squad impact

Ekitike will miss the next match (Premier League fixture) due to suspension. Liverpool must adjust attacking options, possibly giving Isak a league start earlier than planned.

Injury to Leoni

The injury to Leoni will require assessments and could sideline him for an extended period, weakening depth in central defense. Slot said they’ll run scans and see how he recovers.

Form & momentum

Liverpool’s cup run continues, but this match underlined vulnerabilities — discipline lapses and defensive fragility when under pressure. Slot will want to refine that as the season progresses.

We’re through to the next round of the Carabao Cup ✊ pic.twitter.com/zhvAefY7HA

— Liverpool FC (@LFC) September 23, 2025

 

Broader context & season outlook

• With this win, Liverpool advance to the fourth round of the Carabao Cup.
• Their performance across competitions will test depth, especially with European and league fixtures stacking up.
• Ekitike’s signing and integration remain central narratives. His red card brings early challenges to discipline and decision-making under pressure.

Where to watch & broadcast info

This match was broadcast on ITV / ITVX (free to air), and covered on Sky Sports in the UK. Live commentary was available via talkSPORT 2.