Liverpool head coach Arne Slot no hide him frustration after the Reds suffer painful 2-1 defeat to Manchester City for Sunday Premier League blockbuster at Anfield.
The reigning champions bin on course to land massive title blow on Pep Guardiola side after Dominik Szoboszlai fire stunning free kick in front of the Kop to break the deadlock for second half.
Anfield scatter. Momentum dey Liverpool side. Everything dey set for big statement win.
But as the game don show many times before, Manchester City no dey lie down.
Bernardo Silva restore parity for the visitors with well-taken equaliser, before the match descend into pure chaos for injury time. Erling Haaland step up late to convert penalty and give City the lead for the first time in the game.
Most people think say na there the drama go end.
Dem lie.
For the 100th minute, Rayan Cherki fire ball enter net, but referee Craig Pawson cancel the goal after VAR intervention, award City free kick instead, and show Dominik Szoboszlai red card for pulling Haaland shirt.
Moments later, Pawson blow final whistle for what many describe as farcical ending to already dramatic match.
Speaking after the game, Slot admit say he fit “live with” the decision to send Szoboszlai off for that situation.
But one refereeing decision still dey burn him mind.
Arne Slot Slam “Clear” Marc Guehi Red-Card Error
The Liverpool manager vex pass for the decision not to send Marc Guehi off earlier in the game for pulling Mohamed Salah shirt as the Egyptian star race through on goal.
According to Slot, that incident be clear denial of a goalscoring opportunity and suppose result in straight red card.
“If I had to talk about one moment, it would be when Salah was through on goal and Guehi had his shirt,” Slot talk for him post-match interview with Sky Sports News.
“That was definitely a goalscoring opportunity.”
The Dutchman no stop there. For him press conference after the game, he double down on the complaint.
“If you follow the rulebook and you have a clear shirt-pull from Marc Guehi on Mo Salah, who for eight years is scoring that ball every single time – 100 out of 100 times he scores that goal, maybe I exaggerate small – and that is not a red card, then that is where my frustration comes from,” Slot explain.
The Liverpool boss make am clear say him issue no be say referees make mistake sometimes, but say this one too obvious to overlook.
Szoboszlai Red Card Add to Liverpool Selection Wahala
Szoboszlai red card from Sunday match mean say the Hungarian midfielder go miss Liverpool next Premier League game against Sunderland on Wednesday night.
That ban come at very bad time for Slot, as the club dey already battle serious selection crisis, especially for right-back position.
Conor Bradley, Jeremie Frimpong and Joe Gomez all expected to miss the trip to the Stadium of Light through injury.
As e stand, Slot fit be forced to deploy Curtis Jones or Calvin Ramsay as makeshift right-back against the Black Cats.
Another headache for manager wey already dey under pressure.
PGMOL Explain Why Marc Guehi Was Not Sent Off
Following widespread criticism online and from Liverpool camp, the Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL) come out to explain why Marc Guehi no see red card for the Salah incident.
According to Premier League Match Centre post for X, VAR check the situation and agree with referee decision.
“The referee’s call of a free kick and yellow card to Guehi for the challenge on Salah was checked and confirmed by VAR,” the statement read.
“The challenge occurred outside of the penalty area and was deemed not to be denial of an obvious goalscoring opportunity (DOGSO) as there was a covering defender.”
In simple terms, VAR judge say Ruben Dias position behind Guehi mean say Salah no dey completely clean through on goal.
That explanation no satisfy many Liverpool fans, but na the official reasoning wey stand.
Liverpool Slide Continue as Pressure Mount on Slot
The defeat leave Liverpool sixth on the Premier League table with 39 points from 25 games.
Dem now dey five points behind the top four and a worrying 17 points behind league leaders Arsenal.
To make matter worse, the loss also see Liverpool equal unwanted Premier League record, adding to the growing sense of disappointment around the club this season.
Slot no dey immediate danger of sack as things stand, but reports suggest say disastrous days like this one fit make decision easier for FSG when season reach end.
For now, Liverpool must pick themselves up quickly, fix defensive lapses, and hope say injuries and suspensions no finally derail their season completely.
As for Manchester City, dem walk away from Anfield not just with three points, but with belief say the title race still very much alive.
