SPORTS
Slot Questions Referees After Liverpool’s Narrow Carabao Cup Defeat
London – Liverpool manager Arne Slot expressed his frustration following his side’s 1-0 defeat to Tottenham Hotspur in the first leg of their Carabao Cup semi-final.
The loss, sealed by Lucas Bergvall’s late goal, leaves Liverpool with a mountain to climb in the second leg at Anfield on February 6th.
Slot’s post-match press conference centered heavily on the refereeing decisions, particularly the contentious challenge by Bergvall on Kostas Tsimikas which, according to Slot, should have resulted in a second yellow card and subsequent dismissal.
While acknowledging the quality of Bergvall’s winning goal, Slot argued that the preceding events significantly impacted the game’s outcome.
“It was a good goal,” Slot conceded, “but I think you’re interested in the moment before. We were down to ten men for a few seconds, and against a team like Tottenham, that’s far from ideal.”
He questioned the referee’s decision not to award a second yellow, suggesting that even if the tackle didn’t technically stop a counter-attack, the reckless nature warranted a booking.
“Every manager would prefer a second yellow for the opposition than to concede a goal while a man down,” he stated.
Slot also addressed the overall performance, comparing it to Liverpool’s previous 6-3 victory over Spurs.
“If you compare it to the 6-3, then that’s clear [a difference], but I don’t think we will reach that level in every single game,” he explained.
He felt Liverpool controlled much of the match, possessing more of the ball, but ultimately the late goal proved decisive.
His criticism extended to the VAR process, specifically the referee’s explanation of decisions.
“If it’s offside, then I don’t think anyone had to explain something,” Slot noted. He felt the referee should have focused on justifying the lack of a second yellow card rather than the subsequently overturned goal. “Let’s judge this not on an evening, let’s judge this if we see this a few more times,” he concluded.
Despite his disappointment, Slot maintained a degree of composure, emphasizing that while the result was far from ideal, the existence of a second leg offered a glimmer of hope.
“If I ever have to lose, I prefer to lose if there’s still a leg to be played,” he stated, acknowledging the challenge of overcoming the deficit against a strong Tottenham team. The return leg promises to be a high-stakes encounter.
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