Arne Slot calls out ridiculous refereeing double standards in his blunt post-match comments
Arne Slot has hit out at what he described as the baffling inconsistency of Premier League refereeing following Liverpool’s 3-0 loss to Manchester City on Sunday.
While admitting his side were comfortably second-best at the Etihad, the Dutchman felt his team had every right to feel aggrieved over two major first-half calls — a dubious penalty given against Giorgi Mamardashvili and the disallowed Virgil van Dijk goal after Andy Robertson was ruled offside and interfering with play.
Replays showed that Robertson did not block Gianluigi Donnarumma’s view of the ball, and even Gary Neville, a known Manchester United supporter, questioned how the goal could have been chalked off.
Slot calls out “laughable” inconsistency from Kavanagh
Speaking to Sky Sports after the game, Slot highlighted a strikingly similar incident from last season — when the same referee, Chris Kavanagh, allowed John Stones’ stoppage-time winner against Wolves to stand despite Bernardo Silva being offside and obstructing goalkeeper Jose Sa.
“I think it’s clear that the wrong decision was made,” Slot said. “Robertson didn’t interfere at all with what the goalkeeper could do. Someone showed me that City goal from last season straight after the match — it took 13 seconds for the linesman to raise the flag, so there was communication.
“That kind of decision can change a game. We were poor in the first half, but if it had been 1-1 or even 2-1 at half-time instead of 1-0, it might’ve been a completely different contest.”
“Explain that one, Mr Kavanagh…”
Slot’s comments were balanced yet pointed. He accepted Liverpool deserved to lose but refused to overlook an officiating error that could have shifted momentum in his side’s favour.
The contrast between Kavanagh’s decisions — allowing Silva’s interference at Molineux but punishing Robertson for a lesser offence — defies logic and epitomises the inconsistency that frustrates players and fans alike.
PGMOL chief Howard Webb will now be under pressure to clarify the reasoning behind such decisions, with officials once again drawing criticism for key calls in a high-profile fixture.
To make matters worse, VAR official Michael Oliver was also accused by Mark Goldbridge of inconsistency over the penalty awarded to City, especially compared to a similar challenge by Doku on Alexis Mac Allister in March that went unpunished.
Even if Van Dijk’s goal had stood, Liverpool might still have lost given City’s dominance — but that decision deprived them of a potential turning point. Slot will demand far better from his players going forward, though it’s fair to say the officiating did them no favours either.
