Slot blasts VAR, Referee after Guehi avoids red card at Anfield

Liverpool head coach Arne Slot has criticised VAR and referee Craig Pawson following Marc Guehi’s controversial escape from a red card during Liverpool’s goalless draw with Manchester City at Anfield.

With the score still level, the City centre-back was shown only a yellow card for pulling Mohamed Salah’s shirt just outside the penalty area as the forward broke through on goal. VAR official John Brooks reviewed the incident to determine whether the foul occurred inside the box and whether Guehi had denied an obvious goalscoring opportunity.

After the review, the on-field decision stood. The Premier League Match Centre later clarified the ruling, stating that the challenge was outside the area and not considered denial of an obvious goalscoring opportunity because a covering defender was present.

“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 was outside the area and deemed not to be denial of an obvious goalscoring opportunity (DOGSO) as there was a covering defender.”

Speaking after the match, Slot made his frustration clear. “We can talk about the decisions,” he said, via the Manchester Evening News. “I want to talk about the moment Mo was through on goal and Guehi holds his shirt. Everyone who has been in this stadium over the last eight years knows that if Mo is in that position, it’s a goal.

“So it is denial of a goalscoring opportunity.”

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Slot went on to reference a series of decisions involving Manchester City across recent meetings. “When you ask me about which decision, I think: do you mean the disallowed goal at City, the penalty they got in the away game against us, the clear red card on Mo Salah in the second half here, or the penalty they got in the second half? Or do you mean this red card decision for Dominik Szoboszlai?

“That’s only over two games. Anyone who follows Liverpool knows how many other big decisions I could mention from other matches as well — all those 50–50 calls.”

Addressing Szoboszlai’s dismissal late in the game, Slot admitted he understood the call, even if he did not agree with it. “I can live with the red card for Dom, although I don’t like it,” he said. “He pulls Haaland’s shirt, he’s through on goal, and he would have scored. According to the rulebook, that’s a red card.

“But if you follow the rulebook, and you see a clear shirt-pull by Guehi on Mo Salah — who has been scoring from that situation for eight years — and it’s not a red card, then that’s where my frustration comes from.

“I can live with the red card for Dom. Following the rules is all I ask.”

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