S Poddar
Arne Slot has admitted he let emotions get the better of him following Everton’s dramatic equaliser in Wednesday’s Merseyside derby and hopes to handle such moments differently in the future.
The Liverpool head coach is currently awaiting the Football Association’s response after being shown a red card in the wake of the 2-2 draw at Goodison Park. Slot is likely to face disciplinary action for his exchange with referee Michael Oliver, which could lead to an extended touchline ban.
Speaking about the chaotic end to the match, Slot refrained from revealing specifics of his conversation with Oliver. The heated confrontation followed a series of incidents, including dismissals for his assistant Sipke Hulshoff, midfielder Curtis Jones, and Everton’s Abdoulaye Doucouré. Reflecting on his reaction, the Dutchman acknowledged he should have controlled his emotions better.
“I think what happened was that the extra time, the additional five minutes, ended up being eight, a lot happened and emotions got the better of me,” he said. “If I look back at it, I would love to do it differently. I’m hoping to do it differently next time. What exactly has been said or what has happened, there is an ongoing process and I don’t want to disturb that. I can’t go into details.”
Several controversial moments contributed to Slot’s frustration, particularly during stoppage time. He was angered by Oliver’s and the video assistant referee’s failure to penalise Everton’s striker Beto for an apparent push on Ibrahima Konaté in the lead-up to James Tarkowski’s last-gasp equaliser in the 98th minute.
“Many things happened in extra time that led to me being quite emotional,” Slot explained. “There was a VAR incident for two minutes where he checked. I thought maybe the only thing that could happen was he looked back at the foul. Then I thought: ‘Maybe it’s offside?’ Then of course you hear their fans cheering and you think: ‘OK, it wasn’t offside.’ Many things happened in extra time but, like I said, it wouldn’t be smart to go into every single incident.”
Liverpool will now be without Curtis Jones for Sunday’s fixture against Wolves due to his suspension. Additionally, Cody Gakpo is a doubt after sustaining a foot injury during the heated derby. Slot plans to discuss Jones’ reaction to Doucouré celebrating in front of Liverpool supporters but defended his player’s passion and commitment to the team.
“I like a lot that he stands up for the team – for the team and for the fans – but there are other ways to do that maybe,” Slot remarked. “I will talk with him about that, but it is the same for me. I should have acted differently after the game as well. It’s an emotional sport and sometimes individuals, out of emotion, make the wrong decision. That’s definitely what I did.”
Despite the controversy, Slot’s immediate focus remains on regrouping his squad and preparing for the crucial upcoming fixture. With key players missing, he will need to ensure Liverpool maintains their momentum in the league while navigating the fallout from the derby’s intense conclusion.
