Liverpool striker Hugo Ekitike has lightened the mood following his recent red card by poking fun at the incident in a humorous Instagram post that quickly caught the attention of fans.
The French forward was sent off in Liverpool’s Carabao Cup win over Southampton after scoring the decisive goal. Already on a yellow card, Ekitike removed his shirt in celebration — earning an immediate second booking and a red card in the 85th minute. The decision meant he missed the Reds’ next Premier League match against Crystal Palace and faced criticism for his impulsive celebration.
Rather than dwell on the mistake, Ekitike decided to see the funny side. On Instagram, he shared a photo of himself holding up the same shirt he had taken off — but this time, it featured teammate Federico Chiesa’s face alongside the caption “I love Fede.” The post playfully highlighted the assist Chiesa provided for Ekitike’s winning goal.
Fans were quick to enjoy the striker’s sense of humor:
“You’re so cool, man. I love players with personality,” one fan wrote.
Another added, “We actually have the funniest football player on our team.”
“The Chiesa picture is so accurate for this fanbase,” another user joked.
Ekitike’s lighthearted response has helped turn what could have been a frustrating episode into a fan-favorite moment — showing that even in football, a little humor goes a long way
