Arne Slot has drawn criticism online after he vented in his press conference ahead of Liverpool’s match against Chelsea this weekend. The Reds come into the Premier League match having lost their past two games.
The first defeat came against Crystal Palace, with Eddie Nketiah grabbing a last-gasp winner for the home team in a 2-1 victory. Slot’s side then lost against Galatasaray in the Champions League, with a penalty from Victor Osimhen the only goal of the game.
Speaking in his most recent press conference, Slot expressed his frustration over both those costly goals. First, he suggested that the penalty for Galatasaray was soft, claiming that his players don’t go to ground that easily. He then referenced the late Nketiah goal, insisting that it came after the full-time whistle should have been blown.
As quoted by Sky Sports, he said:
“It doesn’t matter if Hugo Ekitike goes 1v1 with the goalkeeper, gets a pull on the shoulder twice or three times but does everything to stay on his feet, like our players mainly do. And one minute later in the other 18-yard box, a player goes to the ground as if it was the worst hit he ever had and the referee gives a penalty.
“By the way, if we had the same referee we had against Galatasaray, we wouldn’t have lost against Palace because this one blew his whistle exactly after eight minutes.”
He did then accept that Liverpool ‘need to do better’, but fans still took umbrage with his comments.
Fans Slam Slot Over Galatasaray Penalty Complaint
Fans online have quickly jumped on Slot’s comments, pointing out what they see as hypocrisy. They have taken issue with his claim that Liverpool players don’t tend to dive.
One noted that Ibrahima Konaté went to ground easily in the very same game, initially winning a penalty vs Galatasaray before it was overturned: “Didn’t Konate dive for a pen in the exact same game?”
Another referenced an earlier Premier League game in which Milos Kerkez was booked for a dive and then substituted before half-time when Liverpool won 1-0 at Burnley. He said: “Didn’t Kerkez get booked for diving?”
One more suggested that Slot had nothing to complain about in the first place, saying: “No intention to get the ball [by Szoboszlai] and double hit, one elbow one hand. Clear penalty. Grow up!”
Another added: “The lack of self awareness on this man. All the things he’s complaining about is what Liverpool has benefited from this season. If the referees were spot on in Liverpool matches this season they won’t be top of the table. And calling that forearm to neck/chest a tap on the face is ridiculous. People actually thought this guy has class when he first came, look at him showing his true colours now.”
Slot Slammed Over Injury Time Issue
If that wasn’t enough, other supporters online took issue with his reference to the late Palace goal. Nketiah’s goal came in the 97th minute after six minutes of added time were signalled, which annoyed Slot at the time and he clearly still hasn’t let it go with his latest comments.
That said, fans have pointed out that Liverpool were perhaps fortunate in the Merseyside derby when officials played a surprising short three minutes of injury time, as the Reds clung on to a 2-1 lead against Everton.
One said: “Hahaha still complaining about added time yet he got a massive favour when the ref didn’t add the time on in the derby.”
Another remarked: “What about the 3 mins of added that was given against Everton?” One more noted: “This guy can’t stop complaining.”
Speaking more generally, others chimed in with: “What a cry baby!” And: “What is this man on about!! His press conferences are getting stranger and stranger.”
While a final fan suggested the pressure may be getting to Slot after a few bad results, saying: “He’s so rattled.”