Arne Slot supplied a considerably cryptic response when requested if he was stunned Fulham‘s Issa Diop averted a purple card at Anfield, however we are able to learn between the strains.
Throughout the first 17 minutes at Anfield, Andy Robertson was despatched off, Fulham took the lead and had been fortunate to have 11 males on the pitch after two purple card-worthy challenges.
Inside 90 seconds, Diop had Robertson clutching at his knee after raking his studs on the left-back earlier than Andreas Pereira did the identical to Ryan Gravenberch‘s ankle previous to scoring.
As a substitute, it was Liverpool who went right down to 10 males after referee Tony Harrington confirmed a straight purple card to the left-back for denying a goalscoring alternative.
Requested in his post-match press convention if he was stunned Diop’s problem was solely value a yellow, Slot stated: “If I seemed again on the entire 100 minutes I noticed, I wasn’t stunned that he didn’t give a purple card.”
After a protracted pause and a few laughter, Slot added: “It’s as much as you the way you wish to learn this remark!”
Assume we’re all on the identical web page there, Arne!
He added: “It was judged by VAR. I didn’t even see it as a result of somebody was stood in entrance of me.
“I used to be like, ‘why is he on the bottom?’ After which folks instructed me he obtained fairly a arduous knock. However yeah, referee gave a yellow and VAR didn’t change it, it could actually occur.”
Slot, who will now serve a one-match touchline ban towards Southampton in midweek after reaching the edge for 3 yellow playing cards, did acknowledge Robertson’s dismissal was deserved.
He did, nevertheless, observe that Diop’s problem compromised Robertson, saying: “Nothing in charge on him, [it was] character that he needed to proceed as a result of he obtained fairly a tough knock on his knee with two studs.
“Sadly, it led to a purple card that was a deserved purple card.”
Harrington had little to no management of the frantic draw at Anfield, and Virgil van Dijk even commented that he felt the referee was “nervous” having failed to ask any dialogue.
“We felt it a bit of bit (that the referee was nervous), however along with Robertson we couldn’t correctly talk with him, I felt,” the captain stated of the Scot’s purple card incident.
“It’s what it’s. We are able to’t put the blame on the referee, but it surely’s additionally a part of the sport.”
