Arne Slot accuses referee of ‘wanting to show’ he wouldn’t be swayed by Liverpool fans as Reds coach questions decisions against Chelsea

Despite the Reds getting the three points and staying top of the Premier League, manager Slot was not happy with some of the decisions that went against his side. One included a spot-kick being taken away from the Reds after it was deemed goalkeeper Robert Sanchez didn’t foul Curtis Jones and another was when Tosin Adarabioyo was shown a yellow card for pulling back Diogo Jota as he threatened to bear down on goal. After the contest, the Dutchman hinted Liverpool would have won more comfortably if the officials took a different stance.

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  WHAT ARNE SLOT SAID

  When asked about the Anfield atmosphere, the ex-Feyenoord boss said: “The fans were really important for us. I don’t know if this is something people say in England but they said at my former club, which was also an impressive stadium, that: ‘Yeah, the referees are a bit impressed by the crowd and that’s why you get the easy decisions in your favour.’

  “But today showed no matter how loud the fans were, the referee just wanted to show that he was able not to give the decisions he had to make. So it didn’t help us with the referee but it definitely helped our players because they had to work so hard.

  “If every time they cheer so hard for you if you make a block tackle, or Darwin [Nunez] sprinted back, or all these moments, that definitely helps you mentally. They were really important for the players but unfortunately, it didn’t happen what all people always think that Anfield always gives you easy penalties. Is that true or not? Today, it showed again that it wasn’t.”

• THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Regardless of these grumblings, Liverpool maintained their one-point advantage over defending Premier League champions Manchester City at the top of the table. This Chelsea game was their biggest test of the season so far and they passed it.

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  WHAT NEXT?

  Liverpool have a busy end to October as they travel to RB Leipzig in the Champions League on Wednesday, then are away at Arsenal in the Premier League next Sunday, before being entertained by Brighton in the last 16 of the Carabao Cup on October 30.