Liverpool’s head coach says the referee was influenced by the atmosphere created by the home crowd
Arne Slot feels Liverpool played well but simply failed to take their chances in the 1-0 loss to Galatasaray in the first leg of their Champions League last-16 tie. Liverpool’s head coach was also displeased by what he felt were refereeing decisions that didn’t go their way.
Liverpool fell behind after Mario Lemina’s seventh-minute header but were unable to equalise for the rest of the game, leaving them with the task of a comeback win at Anfield next week if they are to progress to the quarter-finals.
“We started the game really well, even better than three months ago,” said Slot, referring to the two sides’ encounter earlier this season in September. “We had three or four great moments. The biggest moment when Florian [Wirtz] came across almost an open goal, but he couldn’t finish that ball.
“We weren’t able to score and like last time, with their first attack it led to a corner and you have to give credit to the way when they get a chance they play as if it’s the last chance of their lives.
“That is definitely something we can learn from. We sometimes get our chances and it comes across as, like, we think we’ll get 10 more.
“It’s already a difficult place to come to, but when you’re 1-0 down it makes it even harder.”
Slot felt that many of the refereeing decisions on the night were against them. Liverpool’s attempts to perform the standard Premier League act of highly offensive corners this season were constantly met by the whistle, as the European referee proved to be intolerant of them.
The Premier League side also saw a goal ruled out after the ball scraped Ibrahima Konate’s arm before going in off Virgil van Dijk, although they were also beneficiaries of a generous VAR decision to rule out Victor Osimhen’s second-half goal that would have doubled Galatasaray’s lead, on the basis that Baris Yilmaz had been offside in the buildup.
“I was frustrated about the fact that every free-kick and corner we took if we only look at Galatasaray players the referee already gave a free kick for Galatasaray,” Slot said.
“If you then look at how much they pulled on Virgil’s shirt before the ball hit Ibou’s arm, then it’s safe to say we weren’t the only ones impressed by the atmosphere here today.
“In the Premier League there is much more allowed than in the Champions League.
“That’s why I was so surprised it wasn’t a penalty because in all the other incidents where he thought he saw something when we made a foul and was so fast to blow his whistle and give Galatasaray a free kick.
“Then it’s really, really, really surprising the same referee in another incident when they make the foul says he is going to accept this completely.
“But if you look overall at the 90 minutes, I don’t think I can be surprised by that decision.”
