Arne Slot had no complaints over the penalty that Liverpool conceded against Southampton with the foul being very close to the line and the Dutchman didn’t appear too fussed about Adam Lallana avoiding a red card either — despite Roy Keane insisting the former Reds midfielder should have walked for his tackle on Ryan Gravenberch.
“In general, sometimes you could have made a different decision or not,” Slot said. “But for me, with the offsides and deciding if a ball is inside or outside, that is just black and white. It was a foul, that was clear, so if they saw it was inside then, yes, it’s a penalty.
“Sometimes with a knock, yes or no, or red card, yes or no. There was also an incident in the first half where you could argue if it’s a red card, yes or no. Those things you can argue, but offside and inside or outside the 18-yard box is something you cannot argue.”
“He’s not in control,” Keane said. “He’s not even looking at the ball! There at the right last second [he looks]. Listen, I would have been sent off for it. I would have done! 100 per cent. And there would have been no complaints
“They’ve definitely looked at the player and thought “well he’s not the nasty type”. None of the Liverpool players were appealing for it, he’s an ex-teammate… the more I look at it the worse it is. I think it’s a red.”
Southampton boss Russell Martin also felt the referee could have given his side a second penalty kick when striker Adam Armstrong collided with Liverpool goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher. The decision was a free-kick to the Reds with the Saints feeling that could have gone the other way.
“I have a big issue with Armstrong not getting a penalty at 2-1,” he said live on Sky Sports. “The goalkeeper collides with him. It’s what VAR is there for. I have a big problem with that decision.”
