Arne Slot Explains Why Liverpool Missed the Expected Call at Anfield
Liverpool’s latest Premier League fixture gave fans something to talk about, though not immediately obvious from the 0-0 scoreline.
The New Year’s Day stalemate against Leeds at Anfield extended Liverpool’s unbeaten run, yet the match’s defining moment came early, involving Hugo Ekitike. The French forward was held inside the box but stayed on his feet, and play continued without VAR review.
After the game, manager Arne Slot addressed the incident, putting it into context beyond just the referee’s call. Asked whether Liverpool deserved a penalty for the challenge on Ekitike, Slot was unequivocal.
“No, because he stayed on his feet,” the 47-year-old explained. “If he had gone down, it probably would have been a penalty.”
Slot suggested that this season’s officiating may be shaping how Liverpool players react in the box.
“I can understand why he didn’t go down, because so often this season when we were fouled inside the 18-yard box, we weren’t awarded a penalty,” he added.
The Dutch coach pointed to past examples where Liverpool were denied spot-kicks, alongside “soft penalties” conceded at Brentford and in the Community Shield against Crystal Palace. He also revealed that Liverpool have only been awarded one penalty all season—a striking stat for a team that dominates possession and frequently attacks inside the opponent’s box.
Importantly, Slot emphasized he would not instruct players to go down to win decisions.
“We are just who we are,” he said. “We won the league by being the team we are last season.”
This mindset helps explain why Ekitike stayed upright, even if it potentially cost Liverpool a pivotal moment in a tight game.
The 23-year-old had an overall frustrating outing, missing a great opportunity from Jeremie Frimpong’s driven cross.
Still, the broader perspective on Ekitike remains positive. Paul Merson recently highlighted Liverpool “can’t afford to lose Ekitike to injury,” emphasizing his contributions this season. Clinton Morrison also praised him, calling Ekitike “outrageous” for his role in setting up Florian Wirtz’s goal against Spurs.
Against Leeds, Liverpool never fully clicked, but had that first-half challenge been called, Ekitike’s impact on the match might have been remembered very differently.