Arne Slot rages at decision Liverpool didn't get at Galatasaray and aims referee dig
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Liverpool Echo IconSportFootballLiverpool FCLiverpool head coach Arne Slot felt his side should have been awarded a penalty in their 1-0 defeat to Galatasaray in their Champions League round of 16 first legArne Slot is adamant Liverpool were denied a penalty when a potential equaliser was chalked off on another night of Champions League frustration at Galatasaray.The Reds wasted a number of chances as they tumbled to a 1-0 defeat in their round of 16 first leg at a noisy Rams Park here in Istanbul on Tuesday.Behind to Mario Lemina’s seventh-minute opener, Liverpool thought they had equalised on 71 minutes when the ball was bundled in from a Dominik Szoboszlai corner only for a handball by Ibrahima Konate to be spotted after a lengthy VAR check.Slot, though, believes a penalty should have been awarded for a foul on Virgil van Dijk and suggested referee Jesus Gil Manzano was affected by the loud atmosphere.FOLLOW OUR LIVERPOOL FC FACEBOOK PAGE! All the latest news and analysis from Anfield on the Liverpool Echo's dedicated LFC Facebook page“In the Premier League there is much more allowed than in the Champions League,” the Reds head coach said.
“That’s why I was so surprised it wasn’t a penalty.“In all the other incidents where he thought he saw something when we made a foul and was so fast to blow his whistle and give Galatasaray a free-kick.“Then it was really really, really surprising the same referee in another incident when they make the foul says he is going to accept this completely. But if you look overall at the 90 minutes don’t think I can be surprise by that decision.“Every free-kick and corner kick we took, even if we just looked at a Galatasaray player the referee already gave a free-kick for Galatasaray.“If you then look at how much they pulled Virgil’s shirt before the ball hit Ibou’s arm, then it’s safe to say we weren’t the only ones impressed by the atmosphere here today.”Lemina’s goal from a corner was the first Liverpool had conceded from a set-piece in the Champions League in two years.And Slot said: “If you haven’t conceded a set-piece in two years in the Champions League that shows you’re doing your job quite well.“Credit to Galatasaray, they played it well and (Victor) Osmihen did well and Lemina reacted quickest.
But it doesn’t tell me we are poor at defending set-pieces.“We will get our set-pieces at Anfield and we will be allowed to attack the ball because even running into the box there was a foul given against us.“Hopefully we can score our goal in the home game.”Choose Liverpool Echo as a 'Preferred Source' on Google News for quick access to the news you value.Arne SlotLiverpool FCUEFA Champions League