Liverpool lost 3-0 to Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium, with much-criticized manager Arne Slott insisting the referee’s controversial decision ultimately harmed the team.
Arne Slott claimed that Liverpool’s canceled goal “influenced” their heavy defeat against Manchester City. The reigning Premier League champions lost 3-0 at the Etihad Stadium on Sunday. Erling Haaland, Nico Gonzalez and Jeremy Doku scored for Pep Guardiola’s side.
This was Liverpool’s seventh loss in their last 10 matches, leaving them in 8th place in the Premier League. And although his side were clearly second, Slott believes Virgil van Dijk’s canceled goal was crucial to the result.
The Dutch defender thought he had leveled the score with a superb header, but the referee ruled for a strikeout as Andrew Robertson was in an offside position. Liverpool manager Slott said after the game: “The first half was very difficult for us. It was pretty much what we expected coming here. They put a lot of pressure on us.”
“We struggled quite a bit in the first half. You would have liked to have finished the first half 1-0. Then, of course, it was the five to 10 minutes that affected the game. It wasn’t 1-1 or 2-1, it was 2-0 at half-time. It was clear that they were better than us in the first half.”
read more: Arne Slott fears Liverpool have already defeated their title defense after Man City’s humiliating resultread more: Roy Keane says ‘weak’ Liverpool are in crisis after Man City defeat
Asked how definitive the decision was, Slott added: “It’s difficult to give my opinion. It’s clear and obvious that the wrong decision was made, at least in my opinion.”
“He didn’t interfere with the goalkeeper’s actions at all. Immediately after the game, someone showed me a goal from last season against City and Wolves that was conceded by the same referee.
“So it took 13 seconds for the linesman to raise the flag saying he was offside. So obviously there was some communication, but like I said, it could have had a positive impact on the game for us.”
Was Van Dijk’s goal ruled out correctly or incorrectly? Share your thoughts in the comments section below
The Premier League has already explained why Van Dijk’s goal was ruled out. MatchCentre’s Twitter account said in a statement: “The referee’s call for offside and no goal for Liverpool was confirmed and confirmed by VAR. Robertson was in an offside position and was deemed to have taken an obvious action in front of the goalkeeper.”
Meanwhile, Slott wasn’t the only one not satisfied with the decision. Former Manchester United star Gary Neville has claimed he can sympathize with the Liverpool manager.
“I know, but he’s outside the goalkeeper’s line and I think the goalkeeper can see well. You know the rules better than I do. You can see Robertson there, you can clearly see Van Dijk. He can see it. He has no position to stop. I think he has a right to be angry, Arne Slott.”
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