Aribo missing as Ekitike rescues Liverpool late on before getting sent off against Southampton

Liverpool's Hugo Ekitike was both hero and villain as the Reds got the better of Southampton in the absence of Super Eagles star Joe Aribo

Reigning Premier League champions Liverpool got their EFL Cup campaign off to a flier after a dramatic last-gasp win over Southampton, who were missing the services of Nigerian midfielder Joe Aribo.

Liverpool have become masters of late heroics this season, and this time, it was Hugo Ekitike, who came up with the goods after summer signing Aleander Isak's debut goal was ruled out by a Shea Charles equaliser for the visitors.

Incredibly, Ekitike then celebrated his late winner by taking off his sht, earning a red card for a second bookable offence having been given a yellow card earlier.

How it happened

Arne Slot rolled the dice for Livverpool, making 11 changes from the team that saw off Everton at the weekend.

The reshuffled side lacked rhythm, yet the Reds’ heritage in the competition, as 10-time winners and finalists in three of the last four years shone through.

After a tepid opening, the first goal of the game finally came on 43 minutes when Federico Chiesa punished Alex McCarthy’s careless pass, cutting back for Alexander Isak to finish with composure.

But Liverpool’s grip loosened in the second half, and a moment of panic from Wataru Endo handed Shea Charles the equaliser on 76 minutes, setting up a tense finale.

As he has done multiple times already this season, substitute Hugo Ekitike, put the Reds back in front late on from another Chiesa assist.

His wild shirt-off celebration, though, earned a second yellow, leaving Liverpool clinging on with ten men to close the contest.