Liverpool, England – Liverpool’s manager, Arne Slot, has expressed his regret over his actions that led to him receiving a red card during the chaotic aftermath of the recent Merseyside derby. The match ended in a thrilling 2-2 draw against Everton, with the equalizer coming in the eighth minute of stoppage time, and afterwards, emotions ran high.
During the post-match turmoil, Slot was observed shaking hands with referee Michael Oliver in a manner that appeared confrontational, leading to the issuance of the red card. He was not alone in facing disciplinary action; his assistant, Sipke Hulshoff, along with players Curtis Jones from Liverpool and Abdoulaye Doucoure from Everton, also received red cards for their involvement in the on-field fracas.
Due to Premier League regulations regarding managers who are sent off, Slot was prohibited from speaking to the press immediately following the game. However, he was able to share his thoughts on the incident during a press conference on Friday, stating that several events in the additional time contributed to a surge of emotions. “The emotions got the better of me and if I look back, I would love to do it differently,” Slot remarked, expressing a desire to handle similar situations with more composure in the future.
While Slot refrained from detailing the exact reasons behind his dismissal, he acknowledged the ongoing investigation into the matter. “What has exactly been said and what has happened, there’s an ongoing process and I don’t want to disturb that,” he explained. He took full responsibility for his actions, describing them as impulsive decisions driven by the heated nature of the sport. “But it’s an emotional sport and sometimes individuals, out of emotion, make the wrong decision and that’s what I did,” he added.
Looking ahead to Liverpool’s upcoming home match against Wolverhampton on Sunday, Slot mentioned that forward Cody Gakpo could be sidelined due to an injury sustained in the second half against Everton. Liverpool currently holds a commanding seven-point lead over Arsenal in the league standings.
