Liverpool were thrashed 4-0 by Manchester City in the FA Cup quarter-final and Hugo Ekitike’s shirt swap with Rayan Cherki during the match caused anger among Reds supporters
The sight of Hugo Ekitike exchanging shirts with Manchester City’s Rayan Cherki left numerous Liverpool supporters fuming as the Reds were comprehensively beaten 4-0 in the FA Cup.
Despite a promising opening at the Etihad Stadium, the Reds were swept aside in the quarter-final clash as Erling Haaland netted a hat-trick and Antoine Semenyo also got on the scoresheet.
To make matters worse, Mohamed Salah had a penalty stopped by James Trafford as the Reds slumped to a dismal defeat, their third against City across all competitions this season.
Watching from the dugout, Arne Slot chose to make several substitutions with his team 4-0 down midway through the second period, including withdrawing Ekitike for Cody Gakpo.
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Soon after, Cherki, who had set up Semenyo’s goal, was substituted by Tijjani Reijnders for City, and he wasted no time swapping shirts with his France international colleague Ekitike as he departed.
Cherki even pulled on Ekitike’s Liverpool shirt, which sparked fury among some City supporters in the stands, promptly forcing the ex-Lyon player to take it off.
However, it was the eagerness with which Ekitike had sought to exchange shirts that irritated several Reds supporters, particularly following such a dismal display which is certain to intensify pressure on embattled manager Slot.
“Ekitike swapping his shirt before full time at 4-0 down tells you all you need to know about the mentality of this squad,” said one fan on X.
Another added: “Hugo Ekitke swapping shirts with Rayan Cherki when it’s 4-0 tells you everything you need to know about this squad at the moment. Heads in the clouds.
“Ekitike’s first thought after being subbed off after stinking the joint up was getting Cherki’s shirt,” wrote another.
Another responded to the shirt swap by writing: “There’s absolute zero man management, leaders or captains in this side anymore. no one cares.”
Following the crushing defeat, the Reds must dust themselves off ahead of their Champions League clash away at Paris Saint-Germain, Ekitike’s former side, on Wednesday.
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