‘It was so clear’ Arne Slot responds after PGMOL admits VAR error | OneFootball

Liverpool boss Arne Slot has acknowledged PGMOL’s ‘clear’ mistake that Everton captain James Tarkowski should have been sent off during Wednesday’s Merseyside derby at Anfield.

Despite conceding that referees are bound to make mistakes, Slot expressed that the level of officiating has been acceptable this season, given the scrutiny surrounding their decisions.

Widespread reports claim the PGMOL have privately confirmed  James Tarkowski’s 11th minute foul on Alexis Mac Allister should have resulted in a red card.

Slot, speaking after the news broke on Thursday morning, was pragmatic about the situation.He said: “I think it’s always good that, if they think they’ve made a mistake, they acknowledge it.

“We all know mistakes happen, by us, by me, and by referees. It’s good they acknowledged it, but as I said yesterday, even pundits who aren’t Liverpool fans were clear about it. Let’s move on now.”While the controversy sparked debate, Slot opted to take the high road, particularly after Liverpool secured the win.

The Dutchman also reflected on refereeing in general, stressing that mistakes are a common occurrence in football.“I think mistakes are made everywhere in the world, even in the league I come from,” Slot added. “We strive for perfection, but it will never happen – whether it’s from us or referees. Sometimes we have to accept it, although it’s hard. As David Moyes showed, sometimes it’s smarter to keep your thoughts inside, unlike what happened in the Goodison derby.”Slot also commented on the broader context of referee criticism and added:  “There’s so much negativity towards referees in Holland too. It’s just the world we live in. If there’s a chance to be negative, most will take it.

“Overall, I think it’s been an okay season for England’s referees. The most important thing is that it doesn’t impact the league table, and at the end of the season, we can look back and assess if it influenced anything.”Despite the controversy, Liverpool emerged victorious, maintaining a full strength squad throughout the match. Diogo Jota’s first-half goal was enough to secure all three points, extending Liverpool’s 12 point lead at the top of the Premier League table.Looking ahead to Liverpool’s upcoming match against Fulham, Slot provided updates on the team’s injury situation. Trent Alexander-Arnold and Joe Gomez are both expected to remain sidelined for the next few weeks due to injury, while Conor Bradley’s availability is still uncertain.Regarding goalkeeper Alisson Becker, Slot confirmed that the Brazilian is still in concussion protocol. “Trent and Joe won’t be back for the coming weeks,” Slot said. “We’ll have to wait and see about Conor. With Ali, once he ticks all the boxes in the concussion protocol, he will be back in goal. We are following the necessary procedures.”