Arne Slots Always Finds Ways To Make Anfield Angry To Influence Referees, But Fails

JAKARTA - Liverpool manager, Arne Slot, admits that he has tried to influence the referee this season since arriving last summer.

The Dutch coach tried to make Anfield feel haunted and intimidating so that the referee gave a favorable decision for the Reds.

However, it turns out that the way, which he previously applied in Feyenoord, was unsuccessful in England.

"You try to influence as much as possible. The mistake I've made twice here, once or twice in the Netherlands."

"Sometimes, you think creating a confined atmosphere can result in some positive decisions at the end of the game."

"However, here, until now, in the match against Chelsea and Fulham for 90 minutes, everything remains the same."

"After I tried to influence a little bit, it turned out that the referee didn't suddenly give us one or two free kicks."

"No. He (the referee) just keeps the whole game the same. I know it didn't work, but sometimes I think, can I influence it a little bit? However, it didn't help at all," Slot said at a press conference on Tuesday, December 17, 2024.

Failure to influence the referee can be seen from Arne Slot's disciplinary record. Since taking control of Liverpool in the middle of this year, he has received three yellow cards.

In the aftermath, he could not accompany Liverpool when he visited Southampton at the Carabao Cup on Thursday, December 19, 2024, early morning WIB.

Fortunately, the Reds won the match so that they stepped into the Carabao Cup semifinals.

The Dutch coach said the disciplinary record was against his usual attitude, though adding that he could be emotional during the game.

"You always think, but I think, in general, I am calm. I don't know if this is smart to say, but there are also limitations for me, say like that."

"Then, I could get emotional and unfortunately the limit was only achieved by the referee's decision or the decision made by my player," said Arne Slot.

As a result, Sipke Hulshoff, Arne Slot's first assistant, led the coaching staff on the sidelines for the game against Southampton which ended in the 2-1 win.

Darwin Nunez and Harvey Elliot contributed goals in the win.

Meanwhile, Arne Slot was only able to return on the sidelines when Liverpool traveled to Tottenham Hotspur headquarters on December 22, 2024.