Slot calls Guehi’s foul on Salah a clear denial of a goal, highlighting “frustration” with VAR consistency
Liverpool boss Arne Slot launched a fierce critique of match officials and the Video Assistant Referee system following his side’s dramatic draw with Manchester City at Anfield, centering his anger on one pivotal moment.
With the game scoreless in the first half, City defender Marc Guehi was shown only a yellow card after pulling back Mohamed Salah’s shirt just outside the penalty area as the Liverpool forward raced towards goal. The VAR reviewed the incident but upheld the on-field decision, ruling it was not a denial of an obvious goal-scoring opportunity due to a covering defender.
After the final whistle, a visibly frustrated Slot made it clear he viewed the incident as a game-changing error.
“We can talk about the decisions,” Slot began. “I would like to talk about the one time Mo was through on goal and Guehi holds his shirt. Everyone who has been in this stadium in the last eight years knows if Mo is in that position it is a goal. So it is denial of a goalscoring opportunity.”
Slot broadened his criticism to a pattern of decisions across recent fixtures involving Liverpool, listing disputed calls from current and past games. “That’s only over two games,” he stated, suggesting a longer-running grievance.
The Dutchman pointedly contrasted the Guehi decision with the late red card shown to his own player, Dominik Szoboszlai, for a shirt-pull on Erling Haaland. While unhappy, Slot conceded that red card followed the “rulebook.”
“I can live with the red card for Dom,” Slot explained. “If you follow the rulebook… and it is not a red card for Guehi on Mo Salah, who for eight years has been scoring that ball 100 times out of 100… then there is more of my frustration.”
When questioned about a stoppage-time penalty awarded to Manchester City, Slot was diplomatic but redirected focus to his main complaint. “If it would have happened on the other side I’d have asked for a penalty,” he admitted. “I would prefer to talk about the holding of Mo because that is so obvious.”
Concluding his passionate rebuke, Slot returned to the moment that clearly rankled most. “My main frustration,” he emphasized, “is in the shirt-pull on Mo Salah at 0-0. Clear and open, one vs one on the goalkeeper.”
The Premier League’s Match Centre had earlier published an explanation on social media platform X, defending the non-intervention by VAR, but Slot’s post-match comments have ensured the debate over consistency in officiating will dominate the headlines.
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