Arne Slot questions two decisions after Premier League statement on Liverpool vs Chelsea
Arne Slot's Liverpool moved top of the Premier League with a hard-fought victory over Chelsea but the game at Anfield didn't pass without controversy as VAR got involved
by Tom Victor · The MirrorLiverpool manager Arne Slot said contentious decisions against his team were "not so important" but still expressed frustration with a pair of calls in the Reds' victory over Chelsea.
Curtis Jones was Liverpool's match-winner, beating Robert Sanchez early in the second half after Nicolas Jackson had cancelled out Mohamed Salah's opener. However, Jones was denied a penalty earlier in the afternoon following a VAR overturn.
Referee John Brooks initially pointed to the spot after Jones went down under a challenge from Chelsea keeper Sanchez. However, after a VAR check, it was ruled that the Spaniard had got enough on the ball for Brooks to change his mind.
Slot was also unsure whether Chelsea defender Tosin should have been allowed to stay on the field after a foul on Diogo Jota early in the first half. The centre-back was shown a yellow, but comparisons were made with the dismissal of Arsenal defender William Saliba against Bournemouth on Saturday evening.
"It's not so important any more because we won, but I think it could have been a crucial decision for the VAR to overturn the referee's decision on the pitch, which I couldn't understand," Slot told Sky Sports. "I think if the referee looks at it for a minute, it already shows that the VAR shouldn't have interfered. Even, in my opionion, if you look at it on the screen you still feel it's a penalty.
"Then there was the possible decision of the red card, which I saw yesterday was a red card in a similar situation. Big decisions because penalties or red cards influence the game a lot, but it's also nice that these moments are inside the game because it also creates a lot of energy.
"The fans really stood up today as well, they helped us a lot and that probably comes from these decisions as well, because they're just as biased as I am. In the end a good win against a very strong Chelsea."
Should Liverpool have been awarded a second penalty? Have your say in the comments section
Match-winner Jones was at the centre of both penalty incidents, and was asked about the pair of them after the game. Levi Colwill brought him down for the first of the spot-kicks, which Salah blasted into the back of Sanchez's net.
"I never dive," the midfielder said when quizzed about the first of the two penalties. "I felt the contact, went down and it was a penalty." On the second, he said: "I've not seen it. I know we collided but I've not seen it back so can't really say."
The Premier League put out a statement on the overturned penalty via its Match Centre social media account. "The referee awarded a penalty to Liverpool for a foul by Sanchez on Jones," the statement read. "The VAR deemed that Sanchez won the ball and no foul was committed and recommended an on-field review. The referee overturned the original decision and play restarted with a drop ball."
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