Liverpool head coach Arne Slot says he has attempted to influence referees during matches this season but admitted that his efforts have not yielded any results.
Speaking at a news conference on Tuesday, Slot explained his approach to creating a siege mentality at Anfield, hoping it might sway officials to favour his team in certain situations.
“You try to influence as much as you can,” Slot said.
“The mistake I have made two times already here, and one or two times in Holland, is sometimes you think that creating an atmosphere that the whole world is against you can lead to some positive decisions at the end of the game.
“But here, until now, in the Chelsea game and the Fulham game for the whole 90 minutes it stayed the same.
“It wasn’t like after I tried to influence things a bit, the referee all of a sudden gave us one or two free kicks.
“No, he just kept the whole game the same. I know that it doesn’t work, but sometimes you think: ‘Can I influence that a bit?’ But it didn’t help at all.”
“They make more good decisions than the referees do” 😂
Arne Slot admits referees make him lose his cool more than Liverpool players do 😂#LFC pic.twitter.com/XAuFoPlDUJ
— BBC Sport (@BBCSport) December 17, 2024
Slot, who succeeded Jurgen Klopp as Liverpool’s manager in the summer, will serve a touchline ban during Liverpool’s Carabao Cup clash against Southampton on Wednesday.
The suspension comes after Slot accumulated three yellow cards in his first 17 games in English football.
The Dutchman reflected on his disciplinary record, noting that it is unusual for him, though he admitted that emotions can sometimes get the better of him during matches.
“You always reflect, but I think, in general, I am calm,” Slot added.
“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 and, unfortunately, that limit is only reached by refereeing decisions or the decisions my players make.”
In Slot’s absence, his assistant, Sipke Hulshoff, will take charge on the sideline as Liverpool face Southampton.
The Saints are coming off a 5-0 defeat to Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday, a loss that also saw them part ways with head coach Russell Martin.
