Arne Slot criticizes VAR decision to overturn penalty: 'Numerous calls have gone against us'

Liverpool manager Arne Slot expressed his disappointment but not surprise at the VAR decision to overturn a penalty awarded to his team in their Champions League quarter-final match against Paris Saint-Germain. The Reds were eliminated from the competition after a 2-0 defeat at Anfield, losing 4-0 on aggregate. Despite a spirited performance, Liverpool were punished by two late goals from Ousmane Dembele. The turning point came when a penalty awarded to Liverpool was revoked after a VAR review, a decision that sparked debate. Former player Tim Sherwood believed it was a penalty, stating, 'It's soft, but in my opinion, it is a penalty.' Slot shared his thoughts, saying, 'I'm not surprised, as so many decisions have gone against us this season.' He questioned the consistency of VAR decisions, pointing out that similar incidents have resulted in penalties being awarded in other matches. Liverpool defender Ibrahima Konate also felt that the revoked penalty was a clear one, stating, 'For me, it was a clear penalty. I was behind the referee. If we get the penalty and score, it would have been completely different.' The match also highlighted PSG's misfortune in the first leg, where they were denied at least one penalty despite VAR reviews. In the post-match press conference, Slot reiterated his frustration with the VAR decision, saying, 'Me too, but not when it comes to us, because this has happened to us multiple times this season.' He drew comparisons with Manchester City's experiences with referees, suggesting that his team has been on the receiving end of unfavorable decisions more frequently. Liverpool's underperformance this season has put pressure on Slot to keep his job, especially after failing to build on their Premier League-winning season last year. The club's transition, including the sale of key players and the signing of new talent, has presented significant challenges. Slot acknowledged these difficulties but expressed optimism about the club's future, saying, 'Much has been said that the club is in a transition. The club has sold 8-10 players to make money to sign five or so very talented players. We have to sell to buy. We are losing some players on a free transfer, Mo Salah and Andy Robertson. It is a big challenge in the summer, but the club has shown this model works.'