Liverpool’s head coach, Arne Slot, expressed frustration over Arsenal’s time-wasting tactics during the intense 2-2 draw between the Premier League rivals at the Emirates Stadium on Sunday afternoon.
The match started with Arsenal taking an early lead through Bukayo Saka’s strike, but Liverpool responded with goals from Virgil van Dijk and Mikel Merino.
However, the Gunners faced further setbacks as they lost key players Gabriel Magalhaes and Jurrien Timber to injuries.
Mohamed Salah’s late goal in the 81st minute salvaged a point for Liverpool, capping off a dramatic encounter.
In his post-match, Slot highlighted how the injuries and subsequent stoppages disrupted the flow of the game, suggesting that Arsenal players spent excessive time on the ground, which he believed affected the match’s energy levels.
“Last time I said I completely deserved a yellow card. This time, I don’t think I did,” he remarked, addressing his frustration with the officiating.
He continued, “There were so many times that they were on the floor, which can happen so many times in football. I don’t blame them for that but it always happened after they had ball possession. That took the energy out of the game in my opinion.” Slot recounted an incident where he vented his frustration to defender Ibrahima Konate, saying, “This is a f*****g joke,” a comment that was misinterpreted by the fourth official, leading to his booking. “But I got a yellow for that and now I’m on two and I have to be careful,” Slot added, aware that another caution would result in a touchline ban.
The match was not only a battle for crucial points in the title race but also showcased the ongoing challenges both teams face with injuries as the season progresses.
