Arne Slot has expressed a belief that Marc Guehi should have been sent off for Manchester City in Liverpool’s 2-1 defeat at Anfield on Sunday.
The Reds appeared to be heading for victory when Dominik Szoboszlai’s outstanding free-kick sailed into the net.
But City turned things around via goals from Bernardo Silva and Erling Haaland to move to within just six points of Arsenal at the top of the Premier League table.
They could have even had a third, with Rayan Cherki’s effort from distance chalked off by VAR in one of the most-controversial decisions since the system was introduced to English football.
Instead of the goal being given, Szoboszlai was sent off for grappling with Haaland and a direct free-kick was given.
Slot, when asked about that incident after the game, turned the tables by talking about Guehi.
The former Crystal Palace star, featuring in just his third match for City since his arrival last month, received just a yellow card for pulling Mohamed Salah’s shirt when the Egypt international was threatening to burst through on goal.
Marc Guehi was fortunate to stay on the field in Man City’s 2-1 win over Liverpool
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REUTERS
Slot said: “When you ask me about what decision, I thought what 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 (Szoboszlai red card) decision?
“That’s only over two games, and the ones that follow Liverpool know how many decisions I can come up with in all the other games as well, all the big decisions that could have gone in some situation to a 50-50.
“I can live with the fact, although I don’t like it, that the referee follows the rulebook and Dominik makes a foul on Haaland in that situation, which is a clear shirt-pull and he was through on goal so he would have scored. That’s a red card.”
Five facts about the Premier League | PA/GETTY/REUTERS/GBNEWS
Liverpool face Sunderland next, with that clash due to take place at the Stadium of Light on Wednesday.
Slot added: “I think the Sunderland manager is really happy he gives a red card.
“If you follow the rulebook, and you have a clear shirt-pull by Guehi on Mo Salah, who for eight years has been scoring that ball 100 times out of 100 – a bit of an exaggeration – and it is not a red card, then there is more of my frustration.
“I can live with the red card for Dom. If you like football you say, ‘ah, leave it as a goal, it’s good for them and good for everyone’, but as the Sunderland manager you prefer to see it as a red card.
“That’s the rule and following the rules is all I ask.”
Guehi himself has opened up on the big talking point.
Erling Haaland scored the winner as Man City beat Liverpool | GETTY
The England international, who impressed once again, admitted that he was perhaps fortunate to stay on the field.
“Maybe. It could have been, but that’s not down to me. That’s down to the referees and VAR,” he said when asked if his challenge on Salah could have resulted in his dismissal.
“And if they felt like it was a yellow card, then it was a yellow card.”
The Premier League Match Centre have explained the decision not to send off Guehi.
Writing on X, they said: “The referee’s call of a free-kick and yellow card to Guehi for the challenge on Salah was checked and confirmed by VAR – with the challenge outside of the area and deemed not to be denial of an obvious goal scoring opportunity (DOGSO) as there was a covering defender.”
While Liverpool face Sunderland in two days’ time, City are due to lock horns with Fulham on Wednesday night (8.15pm).
