Slot Reflects on Merseyside Derby Red Card: Emotions Took Over

In a dramatic Merseyside derby that saw both Liverpool and Everton finish with ten men, Liverpool head coach Arne Slot has opened up about his red card following the controversial 2-2 draw at Goodison Park. The match, played on Wednesday, ended in chaos after Everton's 98th-minute equaliser, leading to heated confrontations on and off the pitch.

Slot, 46, was shown a red card after approaching referee Michael Oliver following the final whistle. The Dutch coach, visibly frustrated, admitted on Friday that emotions got the better of him. "There is an ongoing process now, and I have to respect that," Slot said. "Emotions got the better of me. If I could do that differently, I would love to, and I hope to do that differently next time."

The match itself was a rollercoaster of emotions, with Everton's Abdoulaye Doucoure and Liverpool's Curtis Jones both receiving red cards after the game ended. Doucoure's late equaliser, which was checked by VAR, was allowed to stand despite Liverpool's protests that James Tarkowski had fouled Ibrahima Konate in the build-up.

Slot also expressed frustration over the amount of stoppage time played, with five minutes initially added but the game extending to eight. "I think what happened was that the extra five minutes ended up being eight. It happened a lot," Slot said. His assistant, Sipke Hulshoff, was also sent off in the aftermath.

Looking ahead, Slot will be on the touchline for Sunday's Premier League match against Wolves at Anfield while the Football Association reviews Oliver's report. The Premier League initially reported that Slot would be banned for two matches for using offensive language, but this was later retracted due to human error.

Slot acknowledged the intensity of the derby and the need for better composure in such high-stakes situations. "I should have acted differently after the game, but it's an emotional sport, and sometimes individuals make wrong decisions," he said. "That's definitely what I did."

With 14 games remaining in the Premier League season, Liverpool remains seven points clear at the top of the table. Slot, in his first season in charge, will be hoping to maintain that lead as the Reds push for the title.