Liverpool manager Arne Slot has acknowledged that he must set a better example after his expletive-filled outburst at referee Michael Oliver following the Merseyside derby. Liverpool were held to a 2-2 draw by Everton after James Tarkowski’s dramatic stoppage-time equalizer, which led to Slot’s frustration.
Slot stormed onto the pitch and shouted at Oliver, accusing him of favoring Everton in key decisions, and went on to say, “if we don’t win the league, I’ll f**king blame you.”
As a result, the FA handed Slot and his assistant, Spike Hulshoff, a two-match touchline ban and fined Slot £70,000. The ban does not apply to their Champions League match against PSG.
Speaking ahead of the PSG clash, Slot admitted that his emotions got the best of him and that he should have stayed calm instead of confronting the referee.
“I chose to go on the pitch instead of staying calm and talking to Michael,” he explained. “Now that I’ve had time to reflect, I believe I should set a better example and avoid such situations in the future.”
Slot also acknowledged the attention surrounding Michael Oliver, who has been involved in several high-profile decisions this season, including sending off Arsenal’s Myles Lewis-Skelly in a match against Wolverhampton Wanderers (which was later overturned), and a controversial incident in the FA Cup involving Crystal Palace striker Jean-Philippe Mateta.
