Liverpool manager Arne Slot has voiced strong criticism of Video Assistant Referee (VAR) decisions this season, claiming his team has been consistently disadvantaged by controversial calls. The Dutchman's frustration boiled over after Tuesday's Champions League exit to Paris Saint-Germain, where a potential game-changing penalty was overturned.
Crucial Moment in Champions League Exit
With Liverpool trailing 2-0 from the first leg against PSG, the Reds were awarded a 64th-minute spot-kick that could have dramatically shifted the tie's momentum. However, VAR intervened, prompting referee Maurizio Mariani to review the incident at the pitchside monitor and ultimately reverse his decision.
"I'm not surprised," Slot stated post-match. "So many decisions have gone against us this season. It's quite simple: if the referee doesn't give a penalty, VAR would never overturn it. I've seen so many soft penalties given, but people say VAR can't interfere because there is contact. That is what we clearly see."
The Anfield Incident
The controversial moment occurred when Liverpool's Alexis Mac Allister challenged PSG defender Willian Pacho for a loose ball inside the penalty area. Mac Allister went to ground after contact from Pacho, prompting the initial penalty award. VAR Marco di Bello's quick intervention proved decisive, with the review concluding there wasn't sufficient contact to warrant a spot-kick.
Slot acknowledged his team's fortune in the first leg, where a PSG penalty was overturned and another claim went unreviewed, but maintained his broader point about season-long inconsistencies.
Pattern of Decisions
The Liverpool manager referenced multiple incidents throughout the campaign, including a contentious penalty awarded against his side at Brentford. In that match, a free-kick initially given for a Virgil van Dijk challenge on Dango Ouattara was upgraded to a penalty after VAR determined the contact occurred inside the area.
Slot suggested this was emblematic of a pattern where minimal contact has resulted in penalties against Liverpool, while similar situations haven't gone in their favor. The Dutchman hinted at maintaining a detailed record of what he perceives as unfavorable decisions throughout the season.
The Champions League exit marked the end of Liverpool's trophy hopes this campaign, with Slot's VAR complaints adding another layer to a disappointing conclusion to their European ambitions.