Arne Slot takes sly dig at Premier League referees ahead of touchline ban

Liverpool manager Arne Slot has revealed his frustrations with Premier League referees this season, pointedly noting that his players "make more good decisions" than the division's officials.

Slot was shown a yellow card for his protestations towards the fourth official in the second half of Liverpool's 2-2 draw with Fulham on Saturday. Andy Robertson was sent off 17 minutes into a full-blooded contest at Anfield which saw the hosts twice come from behind.

It was a third booking of the season for the Dutch coach, earning him a touchline ban for Liverpool's Carabao Cup quarter-final against Southampton on Wednesday.

Reflecting on the behaviour which led to his caution, Slot told reporters this week: "I think in general I am calm, but, I don't know if it is smart to say this, but there is also a limit for me - let's put it that way - and then I can get emotional.

"Unfortunately that limit is only reached by refereeing decisions, more so than the decision my players make, because they make more good decisions than the referees do. In my opinion. For my team."

Slot accepted that he "probably deserved" his yellow card against Fulham. "This game I could have got five maybe," the Dutch coach joked. "To come out with one, maybe I have to thank the referee for that."

An hour into Liverpool's 2-2 draw with Arsenal, Slot was also booked. However, the forthright coach insisted that he "didn't deserve" the punishment. The 46-year-old explained that there was "a misunderstanding about something I said directed to one of my own players".

Jurgen Klopp's successor, who so often strikes a much calmer tone than the German manager, picked up his first yellow card in Liverpool's narrow victory over Chelsea in October.

"The Chelsea game was emotional," Slot recalled. "We should have had a second penalty but the VAR changed it. This game I think there were a lot of controversial decisions being made.

"So, as I said, the Chelsea game was emotional and maybe I should stay just underneath [the line] than going above. It is what it is."

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