Arne Slot expressed little surprise at the VAR reversal of Liverpool's penalty against Paris Saint-Germain, citing his belief that numerous decisions have gone against his team this season. Liverpool's Champions League campaign ended with a 2-0 quarter-final defeat to PSG at Anfield, resulting in a 4-0 aggregate loss. Despite a spirited performance, Liverpool were punished by Ousmane Dembele's late goals. A potential turning point came when Alexis Mac Allister's penalty claim was overturned by the referee after a VAR review.
Tim Sherwood described the decision as 'soft' but a penalty. Slot stated, 'I'm not surprised, as many decisions have gone against us this season.' He argued that if the referee hadn't initially given a penalty, VAR wouldn't have intervened, and that he's seen many 'soft penalties' given due to contact.
Liverpool defender Ibrahima Konate also believed it was a clear penalty, which could have changed the game's outcome. However, PSG had also been denied penalties in the first leg, with VAR overturning the referee's decision and opting not to punish Konate for a foul. In the post-match press conference, Slot reiterated his surprise at the overturned penalty but noted that such decisions have repeatedly gone against Liverpool. He referenced Manchester City players' comments about being unlucky with referees and pointed out the inconsistent decisions in their matches against Liverpool.
With Liverpool struggling to build on their Premier League win under Slot last season, despite signing notable players, Slot faces pressure to secure a top-five finish and Champions League football next season. He acknowledged the club's transition, having sold several players to fund new signings, and expressed optimism about the future if they can sign quality players to replace those leaving.