Arne Slot, Liverpool's manager, spoke out after his team suffered an away defeat to Manchester United in the Premier League's Red Derby.
Arne Slot, Liverpool's manager, said his team should not have lost 3-2 away to Manchester United in the Premier League's Red Derby last night. He also viewed Manchester United's second goal by Benjamin Sesko as a clear handball and reaffirmed his hope to guide the team to a Champions League spot in the remaining three games.
Slot said, "Yes, I don't think anyone expected us to lose this game after equalizing at 2-2, or maybe some did considering our season overall. As I've said many times this season, whenever we play well or think we're going to win, we tend to lose focus."
Regarding Manchester United's second goal at 2-0 by Benjamin Sesko, Slot believed it might have involved a handball. In that play, Liverpool goalkeeper Freddy Woodman deflected the ball onto Sesko's body before it went into the goal. VAR reviewed a possible handball but ultimately allowed the goal for Manchester United.
Slot said, "Yes, if there was contact with the hand, which I believe there was, because if you know ball sports, you know a change in ball direction means there must have been contact. But the contact was very slight. Therefore, there should be a debate in football whether that is enough to disallow a goal. If there was contact, it should have been canceled."
"However, it's not surprising that VAR decisions often go against us. This has been happening all season. Nevertheless, I want to focus on how we conceded the second goal because that's where we could have done better."
When asked if he was worried that Liverpool has not yet secured a Champions League spot...
Slot replied, "I wouldn't say worried, but I know we need three points. That's why I'm frustrated we didn't get any today, even though we probably didn't deserve points in the first half. That's clear. But if you come back to 2-2 after being 2-0 down, you should get a better result than that, which we didn't. We knew before the game we had four matches to earn three points to qualify for the Champions League. Now there are three left, and we will try."