Manchester Metropolis boss Pep Guardiola despatched out a warning to title rivals Arsenal that his workforce would ‘breathe down the neck’ of the league leaders, as an offended Arne Slot was left reeling at double-standards from referees.
Challengers Metropolis got here from behind to cancel out a Dominik Szoboszlai stunner after Bernardo Silva purpose and Erling Haaland penalty helped salvage a possible season-defining day to maintain them six factors behind.
It was their first league double over Liverpool since 1937 however Slot was incandescent as Metropolis defender Marc Guehi was not despatched off for a tug on Mohamed Salah at 0-0 – however Szoboszlai was for the same denial of a goal-scoring alternative within the final minute.
Requested for his ideas on refereeing selections, Slot mentioned: ‘Whenever you ask me about what determination, I believed what do you imply… the disallowed purpose at Metropolis (earlier within the season)? The penalty they acquired within the away recreation in opposition to us?
‘The clear crimson card (for the foul) on Mo Salah within the second half right here? Or the penalty they acquired within the second half, or do you imply the Szoboszlai (crimson card) determination?
‘That’s solely over two video games, and those that observe Liverpool know what number of selections I can give you in all the opposite video games as properly, all the large selections that would have gone in some state of affairs to a 50-50.
Slot fumed on the determination to not give a foul on Salah after Guehi appeared to drag him down – with the Liverpool boss claiming he had been denied a transparent goalscoring alternative
Szoboszlai was then subsequently despatched off within the remaining moments for taking down Haaland
‘I can reside with the very fact – though I don’t prefer it – that the referee follows the rulebook and Dominik makes a foul on Haaland in that state of affairs which is a transparent shirt-pull and he was by way of on purpose so he would have scored. That’s a crimson card.
‘The Sunderland supervisor is actually completely satisfied he gave a crimson card (as Liverpool play them subsequent). In case you observe the rulebook, and you’ve got a transparent shirt-pull by Guehi on Salah, who for eight years has been scoring that (probability) 100 instances out of 100.
‘And it’s not a crimson card? Then there may be extra of my frustration. I can reside with the crimson card for Dom. In case you like soccer you say, “Ah, go away it as a purpose, it’s good for them and good for everybody” however because the Sunderland supervisor you like to see it as a crimson card.
‘That’s the rule and following the principles is all I ask.’
Metropolis captain Bernardo Silva admitted that defeat would have spelt the top of their title aspirations and was able to concede to Arsenal.
However whereas claiming that his facet had been once more beneath par within the second half, Guardiola desires to pile the strain on Mikel Arteta’s leaders.
‘13 video games, in my expertise, is lots of time,’ Guardiola mentioned. ‘Whenever you go within the final video games taking part in a workforce within the relegation battle, it’s a correct soccer recreation. They reside to outlive. They offer their lives. They’ve lengthy weeks to arrange.
‘All we are able to do is breathe down the neck of Arsenal and (proceed) being there, attempt in the event that they go asleep, in the event that they (make a mistake), to make use of it.
Guardiola fired a warning to Arsenal, saying: ‘All we are able to do is breathe down the neck of Arsenal and (proceed) being there, attempt in the event that they go asleep, in the event that they (make a mistake), to make use of it’
‘I’ve a sense that enhancing (simply) a bit of bit is not going to be sufficient to compete in opposition to Arsenal however nonetheless we’ve got margin (to enhance). We’ve to (play them) at residence, in fact we’ve got to beat them.’
Metropolis received at Anfield for the primary time in entrance of supporters since 2003 and Guardiola added: ‘I’m actually proud. The primary half was unbelievable.
‘We’re not constant over 90 minutes, however we try to develop. We’ve been in that place many instances as a result of possibly we nonetheless aren’t utterly prepared. Possibly in a single month we might be prepared.’
Liverpool’s goal-scorer Szoboszlai is now suspended and they aren’t anticipating Joe Gomez or Jeremie Frimpong again for the journey to Sunderland on Wednesday.
