Arne Slot is angry after a controversial scene involving Hugo Ekitiké. The Liverpool FC coach chose very clear words.
Arne Slot was very annoyed after the goalless draw against a promoted team. About the referees, but also about his own offense. The Liverpool FC coach especially struggled with a contentious scene after the 0-0 draw against Leeds United.
In the 14th minute of play, there was a challenge between Liverpool’s Hugo Ekitiké and Jaka Bijol, who tugged at the attacker. Ekitiké was able to lay the ball off to Florian Wirtz – whose shot was blocked – yet Slot saw a penalty-worthy scene.
Hugo Ekitiké should have been awarded a penalty, says Arne Slot
“If he had fallen, it probably would have been a penalty,” said the Reds’ coach. He criticized the officials rather than his striker.
Liverpool coach complains: “Quite surprising”
“This season, so many times when we’ve been fouled in the box, we haven’t been given a penalty. Maybe that’s why our players think: ‘Yes, then we’ll just try to stay on our feet.'”
Slot angrily calculated that his team received surprisingly few penalties. Only once this season has a spot-kick been awarded: “For the team that has the most possession and attacks so much in and around the opponent’s penalty area, that is perhaps quite surprising.”
Nevertheless, he does not want to encourage his players to fall in the future.
Slot also spoke clearly about the general lack of penetration in his offense. “Not for the first time this season, we’ve seen a team that wanted to, tried a lot, but found no solutions,” said the Dutchman after the 0-0 draw against the promoted team.
“To create chances against deep-lying opponents, you need pace and individual moments to create an overload,” he explained: “I think we are the team with the most possession in the league, but possession alone does not mean you generate enough chances.”