Liverpool manager Arne Slot spoke out for the first time after being sent off by Michael Oliver after Wednesday’s dramatic Merseyside derby.
The Dutchman was given a red card following the full-time whistle at Goodison Park when he confronted Oliver in the middle of the pitch.
Slot was unhappy James Tarkowski’s 98th-minute equaliser had been allowed to stand, claiming Ibrahima Konate had been pushed in the build-up to the goal.
It was at first believed that Slot would be banned from taking charge of Liverpool’s crucial Premier League clash at home to Wolves on Sunday because of the red card.
However, the ex-Feyenoord chief is expected to be in the dugout for the clash, with an investigation into the sending-off being conducted by the FA in the background.
Speaking ahead of the weekend clash, Slot said: “What happened was the extra time additional five minutes it ended up being eight, the emotions got the better of me. If I could do that differently, I am hoping to do it differently next time as well.”
He added: “Emotions got the better of me and I would love to go back and do it differently. I hope to next time.”
Going into more detail about the red card, he stated: “Many things in extra time left me quite emotional. There was a VAR incident for two minutes where I thought it maybe a foul and then it could be offside.
“Many things happened. It wouldn’t be smart to go into every incident.”
Slot wasn’t the only person sent off following the full-time whistle on Wednesday, with Curtis Jones and Abdoulaye Doucoure both shown second yellow cards for their role in a post-match scuffle in front of the travelling Liverpool fans.
Reacting to the incident, Slot said: “I like a lot that he [Curtis Jones] stands up for the team but there are other ways for the team and the fans to do that.
“I will talk with him about that. The same for me, I should have acted differently after the game as well. But it’s an emotional sport as well and sometimes individuals make the wrong decision and that’s definitely what I did.”
The result was an unwanted setback for Liverpool as they go in search of a record-equalling 20th league title.
But having reflected on the 2-2 draw, Slot believes there are still positives to take from Wednesday’s match. He explained: “It felt after the referee blew his whistle we lost two points, but over the full 90 minutes I didn’t feel constantly we were the ones going to win, more that the draw was the fair result. But to be up after 97 minutes it felt like we lost two points.”
“I felt we won a lot as well. Togetherness of team and fans and how everyone was together. The team were mentally so strong during a game – better than last year – in a game played in difficult circumstances for them, so to fight and be so strong that gives me a lot of confidence for next 14 games.”
Liverpool sit seven points clear of second-placed Arsenal with 14 matches of the Premier League season left to play.
