Liverpool manager Arne Slot expressed approval on Thursday of the Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL) acknowledging a refereeing error during Wednesday’s heated Merseyside derby, where Everton’s James Tarkowski escaped a red card. The Dutchman, speaking ahead of Liverpool’s upcoming clash with Fulham, emphasized that while mistakes are inevitable in football, the transparency from the refereeing body was a positive step.
The incident in question occurred during Liverpool’s hard-fought 1-0 victory over Everton at Anfield, a result that restored their 12-point lead at the top of the Premier League table. In the 11th minute, Tarkowski, Everton’s captain, lunged into a challenge on Liverpool midfielder Alexis Mac Allister. Though he made contact with the ball, his studs-up follow-through caught Mac Allister high on the calf. Referee Sam Barrott issued only a yellow card, a decision upheld by Video Assistant Referee (VAR) Paul Tierney after a brief review.
Post-match analysis from pundits, including Sky Sports’ Gary Neville and Jamie Carragher, labeled the tackle as a clear red-card offense, with Everton manager David Moyes even admitting his defender was fortunate to remain on the pitch. On Thursday, the PGMOL privately conceded to Liverpool that the challenge met the threshold for serious foul play, and VAR should have prompted an on-field review to overturn the original call.
Speaking at a press conference, Slot said, “It’s always good that if they think they’ve made a mistake, they acknowledge that. We all know mistakes are being made during football matches—by us, by me, by referees. It’s good they acknowledged the mistake, but it was so clear. So many pundits, even those who aren’t Liverpool fans, were all clear about it too. Let’s move on to Sunday now.”
Slot’s measured response avoided reigniting the debate, instead focusing on the broader context of refereeing in the Premier League. “I think everywhere around the world, mistakes are being made—it was the same in the league I came from,” he added, referencing his time in the Dutch Eredivisie with Feyenoord. “We are all aiming for a league without mistakes. I’m aiming for a season without me making one mistake in my lineups, but unfortunately, that will probably never happen—not with me and not with refereeing decisions.”
The Liverpool boss also praised the general standard of officiating in England this season, despite the occasional errors. “I think it’s quite an okay season for referees in England, actually. Mistakes are being made, but the most important thing is that it doesn’t influence the league table. We’ll only know that at the end of the season.”
Wednesday’s derby victory, secured by Diogo Jota’s second-half strike, underscored Liverpool’s dominance in the title race, but the Tarkowski incident overshadowed what Slot described as a challenging match. “We felt yesterday how hard it is to win a Premier League game,” he said. “With eight games to go, every game is a challenge—starting with Fulham, who are having a very good season as well.”
Slot also provided updates on Liverpool’s injury concerns, noting that defenders Trent Alexander-Arnold and Joe Gomez remain weeks away from returning, while goalkeeper Alisson Becker is still sidelined under concussion protocols following an injury sustained on international duty with Brazil.