Arne Slot Opens Up on Red Card Incident After Everton Draw
Arne Slot has finally explained why referee Michael Oliver sent him off following Liverpool’s dramatic 2-2 draw against Everton in the Merseyside derby.
The 46-year-old manager lost his temper after the full-time whistle at Goodison Park on Wednesday night and was dismissed alongside his assistant, Sipke Hulshoff.
Liverpool initially fell behind in the 11th minute when Beto latched onto Jarrad Branthwaite’s clever free-kick and slotted past Alisson. However, just five minutes later, Alexis Mac Allister headed in the equalizer. Mohamed Salah then put the Reds ahead in the 73rd minute, but James Tarkowski’s stunning 98th-minute volley ensured Everton salvaged a point.
Tensions boiled over after the final whistle when Curtis Jones and Abdoulaye Doucoure clashed, with Doucoure seemingly provoking Liverpool’s away fans, much to Jones’ frustration. Soon after, Slot confronted Oliver and his officiating team, resulting in his immediate dismissal.
The Liverpool boss skipped the post-match press conference but addressed the media on Friday morning. When asked about his red card, Slot remained cautious in his response.
Slot Reflects on His Dismissal
“There is an ongoing process, and we have to respect that, so I can’t go into details,” Slot stated.
He admitted that emotions got the better of him, especially due to the extended stoppage time. “Extra time was originally five minutes, but it ended up being eight. If I could handle it differently, I would—and I hope to do so in the future.”
Slot acknowledged that while Liverpool led until the 97th minute, a draw felt like the fairest result overall. “At the final whistle, it felt like we lost two points, but throughout the game, it didn’t always seem like we were the dominant side. However, I believe we gained a lot in terms of team spirit and unity. The players showed incredible mental strength, which gives me confidence for the next 14 games.”
Curtis Jones’ Red Card and Lessons Learned
Slot also addressed the red card shown to Curtis Jones, who will now serve a one-match suspension.
“Many things happened in extra time that led to my frustration,” Slot admitted. “There was a VAR check that lasted two minutes—I thought there might have been a foul, then a possible offside. Emotions were high, but I won’t go into every incident.”
Regarding Jones, Slot praised his passion but suggested he should have handled the situation differently. “I appreciate that Curtis stands up for the team, but there are other ways to do that. I will talk with him about it. The same applies to me—I should have acted differently after the game. But football is an emotional sport, and sometimes we make the wrong decisions in the heat of the moment, which is exactly what I did.”
Liverpool’s Next Challenge
Liverpool will return to Premier League action on Sunday afternoon when they host Wolves at Anfield, looking to bounce back from the intense derby draw.
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