Wayne Rooney reacts to Hugo Ekitike’s red card, calling the celebration “silly but refreshing” amid criticism from pundits after Liverpool vs Southampton clash

Former Manchester United and England striker Wayne Rooney has shared his thoughts on the red card shown to Hugo Ekitike during Liverpool’s Carabao Cup win over Southampton on Tuesday night.

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Ekitike, who netted a dramatic late winner in the cup tie, was sent off for removing his shirt in celebration — earning a second yellow card and an automatic one-match suspension that rules him out of this weekend’s Premier League fixture against Crystal Palace.

While the incident drew sharp criticism from pundits such as Chris Sutton, who branded the celebration “sheer stupidity” on BBC Radio 5 Live, Rooney offered a more nuanced perspective during his appearance on the latest episode of his BBC podcast.

“He’s been caught up in the emotion of scoring a goal, and he’ll probably regret it,” Rooney admitted.

“I’m not defending it because it is silly, but I’m saying what we’ve seen over recent years with VAR and players scoring goals and waiting to celebrate and stuff — I think it’s actually refreshing to see someone celebrating a goal.”

Rooney added that the young forward’s absence now opens the door for competition within the squad, particularly with Alexander Isak pushing for a starting role.

“He’s doing really well, and it’s probably a shootout for him and Alexander Isak to start against Palace,” Rooney said.
“He’s giving Isak the chance to come in and try and take his place. So I’m sure he’ll be devastated.”

The incident has sparked a broader debate on whether emotional celebrations — especially those involving shirt removal — should continue to attract bookings, given how passionate moments can sometimes override judgement.

Under current FIFA and Premier League rules, removing one’s shirt during a goal celebration is an automatic yellow card offence, regardless of context or timing.

With Ekitike now suspended, attention turns to Isak and whether he can capitalise on this opportunity in Saturday’s Premier League encounter.

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Liverpool, meanwhile, progress to the next round of the Carabao Cup, but manager Jürgen Klopp may have a selection headache depending on Ekitike’s long-term role in the squad.