Arne Slot criticises officials over Guéhi challenge on Salah

• Arne Slot said Marc Guéhi should have been sent off for pulling Mohamed Salah back during Liverpool’s defeat by Manchester City.
• Slot accepted the red card shown to Dominik Szoboszlai but questioned consistency in refereeing decisions across the match.
• Liverpool remain sixth in the Premier League after surrendering a half time lead at Anfield.

Arne Slot said Marc Guéhi should have received a red card for pulling Mohamed Salah back during Liverpool’s 2-1 defeat by Manchester City at Anfield.

Liverpool led before Erling Haaland scored a stoppage time winner for City. Rayan Cherki later had a goal disallowed after Szoboszlai was dismissed for denying a clear goalscoring chance in the build up.

Slot said Guéhi escaped punishment earlier in the second half after pulling Salah’s shirt on the edge of the penalty area.

“When you ask me about which decision, I can mention several over two games,” Slot said. “The disallowed goal, the penalties, the clear red card on Mo Salah in the second half here, or the red card shown to Dominik.”

Slot said he accepted the dismissal of Szoboszlai under the laws of the game.

“I can live with the referee following the rulebook,” he said. “Dominik pulls Haaland back and he is through on goal. That is a red card.”

He said the same standard should have been applied to the challenge on Salah.

“If you follow the rulebook and you have a clear shirt pull on Mo Salah at 0-0, one against one with the goalkeeper, then I do not understand why that is not a red card,” Slot said.

Liverpool stayed sixth in the Premier League table after the defeat, five points behind fourth placed Manchester United.

Slot said his frustration came alongside mixed emotions about the performance.

“I feel anger and disappointment,” he said. “City were better in the first half without creating many chances. They controlled the ball.”

He said Liverpool showed progress after the break.

“Our intensity was much higher in the second half,” Slot said. “We pressed them all over the pitch. That level against a team that is one of the best in possession in England shows progress.”

Slot said the manner of the defeat was difficult to accept.

“I expected more than leading and then conceding twice,” he said.