MANCHESTER, ENGLAND — Arne Slot criticised VAR decisions after Liverpool suffered a dramatic 3-2 defeat against Manchester United, while also admitting his side must address recurring defensive mistakes.
The Premier League clash at Old Trafford exposed both controversy and deeper structural issues within Liverpool’s campaign, as they slipped to another damaging loss despite mounting a second-half comeback.
United raced into a 2-0 lead early in the game, with Benjamin Šeško scoring a goal that was checked for a potential handball but ultimately allowed to stand after review by VAR official Stuart Attwell and on-field referee Darren England.
Slot reacted angrily to the decision, insisting there appeared to be contact with the ball and questioning the consistency of VAR rulings that he believes have repeatedly gone against Liverpool this season.
He pointed to previous incidents, including a controversial penalty decision involving Paris Saint-Germain and Alexis Mac Allister, as evidence of a pattern of unfavourable calls.
Despite his frustration, Slot acknowledged that VAR was not the sole reason for the defeat, admitting that his team’s own mistakes—particularly losing possession in dangerous areas—contributed significantly to the result.
Liverpool managed to fight back and level the score at 2-2, showing resilience and attacking intent, but defensive lapses once again proved costly in the decisive moments.
Kobbie Mainoo scored the winning goal in the 77th minute after a defensive error, sealing victory for Manchester United and completing a league double over their rivals.
The defeat highlighted a troubling trend for Liverpool, with the team conceding what Slot described as “ridiculous goals” throughout the season, reflecting ongoing issues with concentration and defensive organisation.
Former England striker Alan Shearer also weighed in on the controversial goal, stating that while he believed it involved handball, he would prefer such marginal incidents not to result in goals being disallowed.
Liverpool’s struggles this season have been compounded by injuries to key players, including Mohamed Salah and Alexander Isak, both of whom were unavailable for the match.
Their absence has reduced attacking threat and squad depth, forcing the team to rely on less experienced options in crucial fixtures.
Despite the defeat, Liverpool remain on course to secure Champions League qualification, sitting just ahead of Bournemouth with only a few games remaining in the season.
However, the performance has reinforced the perception that the team is in decline compared to their previous title-winning campaign, with inconsistency and defensive errors undermining their ambitions.
Slot has already indicated that the upcoming summer will mark the beginning of a new cycle for Liverpool, with potential squad changes expected as the club looks to rebuild and regain competitiveness.
As the season nears its conclusion, the focus will shift to whether Liverpool can secure a top-four finish while preparing for what appears to be a significant period of transition.
