In the heat of a dramatic Merseyside derby, Liverpool manager Arne Slot found himself embroiled in controversy.
After Everton’s late equaliser in the eighth minute of injury time, Slot’s emotions surged. Consequently, he confronted referee Michael Oliver immediately after full-time.
Following that decisive moment, Slot approached Oliver with frustration. Moreover, his assistant Sipke Hulshoff, along with Liverpool’s Curtis Jones and Everton’s Abdoulaye Doucoure, also received red cards. The incident quickly escalated, and fans witnessed a melee that left everyone stunned.
Slot admitted that his feelings overtook his judgment. He stated, “The emotions got the better of me,” and added that he would handle things differently next time. Furthermore, he now awaits The FA’s decision after Oliver’s report, and he remains determined to learn from this lapse.
Interestingly, expert lip-reader Jeremy Freeman unveiled details of the exchange. In one clip, Slot greeted Oliver with a “Great game” before pulling the referee during their handshake. Consequently, Oliver brandished a red card, and Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk later reassured the official by saying, “It isn’t personal.”
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Moreover, Slot explained that extra-time incidents added to his heightened emotions. He revealed that a VAR check extended five minutes of extra time into eight, which further complicated matters. Thus, he chose not to detail every incident in order to respect the process and avoid additional controversy.
Slot also mentioned he might speak with Curtis Jones regarding his actions. Jones received a second yellow card after confronting Abdoulaye Doucoure, following Everton’s late equaliser celebration. Although Slot appreciated Jones standing up for the team and fans, he believes there are better ways to express support. In this way, both men acknowledged that emotions sometimes lead to poor decisions.
The match result left Liverpool with valuable points at Goodison Park. As a result, Liverpool now sit seven points clear at the top of the Premier League. Additionally, the club now has 14 games remaining this season, a figure that ties them with second-placed Arsenal. This outcome has boosted the team’s confidence despite the post-match chaos.
Finally, Slot confirmed that key players remain in contention for the upcoming game against Wolves. Trent Alexander-Arnold should be fit after his recent return from injury, although Curtis Jones faces a one-game ban and Cody Gakpo is currently being assessed for injury. Overall, Slot praised his players for their resilience and improvement compared to last year’s derby, and he remains optimistic about overcoming adversity in the games ahead.
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