Football Apr 16, 2026

Arne Slot: Liverpool boss bemoans VAR decision to overturn penalty in Champions League exit to PSG

👤
By Admin
Sports Journalist
Arne Slot: Liverpool boss bemoans VAR decision to overturn penalty in Champions League exit to PSG

Arne Slot wasn't surprised Liverpool's penalty against Paris Saint-Germain was overturned as he believes "so many decisions have gone against" his club this season.

Liverpool were dumped out of the Champions League after another 2-0 quarter-final defeat to PSG at Anfield saw them beaten 4-0 on aggregate.

Liverpool produced a spirited performance that unsettled the European champions until Ousmane Dembele punished them twice late in the game. There were good moments for the Reds, especially when Alexis Mac Allister thought he had won a penalty at 0-0, only for it to be controversially revoked by the referee following a VAR review.

"It's soft, but in my opinion it is a penalty," said Tim Sherwood who was watching the game on Soccer Special.

Slot, speaking to Amazon Prime, said: "I'm not surprised as so many decisions have gone against us this season.

"It's quite simple. If the referee doesn't give a penalty the VAR would have never overturned it but I've seen so many soft penalties given but people say VAR can't interfere because there is contact. That is what we clearly see."

Liverpool defender Ibrahima Konate added: "For me it was a clear penalty. I was behind the referee. If we get the penalty and score it would have been completely different."

However, PSG were unfortunate not to be awarded at least one spot kick in the first leg, with VAR overturning the referee's decision to penalise Konate for a foul on Warren Zaire-Emery, then opting not to punish the defender for a push on Nuno Mendes.

In the post-match press conference at Anfield, Your Site News' Vinny O'Connor said he was surprised the penalty decision was overturned given there was contact.

"Me too," replied Slot. "But not when it comes to us because this has happened to us multiple times this season.

"I think it was Rodri or Bernardo Silva who said they [Manchester City] have been very unlucky with referees this season. I heard them say this one month ago, something like that.

"If you can say that, then remember both games you played against us, how many decisions then went against us. So what does this tell you about us?"

Liverpool have failed to build on their Premier League winning season under Slot last year despite signing the likes of Alexander Isak and Florian Wirtz in the summer.

Slot has come under pressure to keep his job, such has been their underperformance, and they still have a job on to secure a top-five finish in the Premier League to play Champions League football next season.

Slot said: "Much has been said that the club is in a transition. The club has sold 8-10 players to make money to sign five or so very talented players.

"We have to sell to buy. We are losing some players on a free transfer, Mo Salah and Andy Robertson.

"It is a big challenge in the summer but the club has shown this model works. As I said many times the future looks very good, especially if we can sign players after good players leaving this summer."

Tags:

football news

Share this article

Related Posts

Virgil van Dijk: Liverpool captain urges owners to resolve ticket price dispute - Paper Talk and football transfer gossip

Virgil van Dijk: Liverpool captain urges owners to resolve ticket price dispute - Paper Talk and football transfer gossip

The top stories and transfer rumours from Monday's newspapers...Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk has urged the club's owners to sit down and come to...

Marie-Louise Eta becomes first female head coach in men's top five European leagues at Bundesliga side Union Berlin

Marie-Louise Eta becomes first female head coach in men's top five European leagues at Bundesliga side Union Berlin

Marie-Louise Eta has become the first female head coach in the men's top five European leagues after being announced as Union Berlin's new boss.Eta ha...

Falkirk 3-6 Rangers: Danny Röhl's side keep Scottish Premiership title hopes alive with thrilling comeback

Falkirk 3-6 Rangers: Danny Röhl's side keep Scottish Premiership title hopes alive with thrilling comeback

Rangers produced a stunning comeback at Falkirk to remain firmly in the Scottish Premiership title race with five games to play. Danny Röhl's side sta...

Sheffield United 2-1 Hull: Blades hit back to sink 10-man Tigers

Sheffield United 2-1 Hull: Blades hit back to sink 10-man Tigers

Southampton continued their march up the Championship table as they came from behind to beat fellow play-off hopefuls Derby 2-1 at St Mary's.Second-ha...

Hearts 3-1 Motherwell: Late Lawrence Shankland and Pierre Landry Kabore goals seal vital win in Scottish Premiership title race

Hearts 3-1 Motherwell: Late Lawrence Shankland and Pierre Landry Kabore goals seal vital win in Scottish Premiership title race

Hearts came from behind to beat Motherwell 3-1 on Saturday, maintaining their three-point lead at the top of the Scottish Premiership.After a goalless...

Birmingham City 2-0 Wrexham: Promotion hopes for Phil Parkinson's side fading following defeat at St Andrew's

Birmingham City 2-0 Wrexham: Promotion hopes for Phil Parkinson's side fading following defeat at St Andrew's

Birmingham City cruised to a 2-0 win at St Andrew's to puncture Wrexham's hopes of a Championship play-off place.Wrexham had the opportunity to move w...