Liverpool head coach Arne Slot said he had tried to influence referees during games this season but admitted his efforts had yielded no results.
At a press conference on Tuesday, Slot explained his approach to creating a siege mentality at Anfield and hoped it could persuade officials to favor his team in certain situations.
“You try to have as much influence as possible,” Slot said.
“The mistake I’ve made twice here, and once or twice in Holland, is that sometimes you think that creating an atmosphere where the whole world is against you will lead to some positive decisions at the end of the game can lead.”
“But here, so far, in the Chelsea game and the Fulham game, it stayed the same for the whole 90 minutes.
“It wasn’t like, after I tried to have a little influence, the referee suddenly gave us a free kick or two.
“No, he just stayed the same the whole game. I know it doesn’t work, but sometimes you think, ‘Can I influence this a little bit?’ But it didn’t help at all.”
“They make more good decisions than the referees” 😂
Arne Slot admits referees upset him more than Liverpool players 😂#LFC pic.twitter.com/XAuFoPlDUJ
— BBC Sport (@BBCSport) December 17, 2024
Slot, who succeeded Jurgen Klopp as Liverpool manager in the summer, will serve a sideline ban during Liverpool’s Carabao Cup game against Southampton on Wednesday.
The ban comes after Slot picked up three yellow cards in his first 17 games in English football.
The Dutchman reflected on his disciplinary record and noted that it was unusual for him, although he admitted that emotions can sometimes get the better of him during games.
“You’re always thinking, but I think generally I’m calm,” Slot added.
“I don’t know if it’s wise to say this, but for me there is also a limit – let’s put it this way.
“And then I can get emotional, and unfortunately that limit is only reached by referee decisions or the decisions of my players.”
In Slot’s absence, his assistant Sipke Hulshoff will take charge on the touchline when Liverpool play Southampton.
The Saints suffered a 5-0 defeat against Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday, a defeat which also saw them part ways with head coach Russell Martin.
