Liverpool head coach Arne Slot hit out at match officials after Dominik Szoboszlai was shown a late red card in the dramatic closing stages of Manchester City’s 2-1 win over the Reds at Anfield. Defeat dented Liverpool’s bid for a Champions League spot, while City’s victory moved them within six points of Arsenal at the top of the Premier League table.
The flashpoint came in stoppage time when Szoboszlai was sent off after VAR intervention. Slot refused to dwell on the Hungarian’s sending off in the post-match press conference, instead pointing to an earlier incident involving Mohamed Salah as the bigger talking point.
“That’s not an incident we should talk about,” Slot said. “Maybe he should have left it as it is for the goal, but if that’s the rule, we have to accept it.
“If there’s an incident we should talk about, it’s when Mo Salah is one-on-one with the goalkeeper. Anyone who’s been in this stadium in the last seven or eight years, that’s a goal for Salah. Once again, the referee decided not in our favor. He has to do his job.”
The incident that left Slot fired up came when Liverpool called for a red card after Marc Guehi pulled down Salah outside the box as the striker raced towards goal. Pawson was only given a yellow card and VAR upheld the decision as he was deemed to be covering the defender.
Why was Szoboszlai red carded against City?
Szoboszlai’s red card came in the 90th + 10th minute as Liverpool chased a late equalizer and Alisson Becker was pushed into the box. Manchester City substitute Rayan Cherki headed into an empty net from long range, with Erling Haaland racing to collect the loose ball.
Szoboszlai pulled Haaland back in an attempt to stop him, and while Pawson initially let play continue and conceded the goal, VAR overturned the decision. The goal was disallowed and Szoboszlai was sent off for denying a clear scoring opportunity.
What did Man City and Haaland say?
Haaland admitted he felt sympathy for the Liverpool midfielder, suggesting the result was cruel.
“Obviously the referee had to follow the rules, but he will have three games,” Haaland said. “In the end, I feel sorry for him because he has three games.
“Just score a goal, don’t give a red card. It’s simple. It’s the rules and how it is.”
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola also questioned the decision, claiming the officials could have simply let the goal stand.
“We won the game and Szoboszlai can’t play now,” Guardiola said. “I know he pulled it, but in a game where the referee says ‘play on’, ‘play on’, ‘play on’, is there a lot of moves?
“Then score a goal, 3-1, Szoboszlai can play and we are happy.”
City were also awarded a penalty after Alisson roared at Matheus Nunes, which was reviewed and upheld by VAR.
City’s 2-1 win finally reshaped the title race at the top, while the loss leaves Liverpool sixth, five points adrift of a Champions League spot and now without Szoboszlai for the next three games.
– The end
Issued by:
Debodinna Chakraborty
Published on:
February 9, 2026
