ReactionArne Slot press conference: Verdict on Liverpool 1-2 Manchester City
The Reds took a lead in the second half of Sunday's Premier League clash thanks to Dominik Szoboszlai's stunning free-kick.
But the visitors to Anfield produced a late turnaround through goals from Bernardo Silva and Erling Haaland - via an added-time penalty - to claim three points.
City also saw a subsequent third effort from Rayan Cherki ruled out in a passage that resulted in Szoboszlai being sent off for denying a scoring opportunity.
See everything Slot had to say when speaking to the media afterwards below.
On how he reflects on the ending of the game...
Yeah, a feeling of anger, a feeling of disappointment, of course. First half, City were the better team on the pitch without creating that many big chances, expect for the one from Haaland in the first minute. But they played easier with the ball. But the improvement we have made since three or four months ago I think was visible for everyone.
Second half, our standards went up. Standards in terms of intensity. We were pressing them all over the place and that is the biggest improvement we have made in the last three or four months - that the whole team is now able at the highest level against a team that is probably one of the best teams, maybe the best team or one of the best teams in England in ball possession, to do so well off the ball is a big improvement. Fantastic second half, I was expecting more than being 1-0 up but we weren't and then two goals conceded.
On his view of the decision to disallow Cherki's finish in stoppage time...
When you asked me, what do you think about the decision, I thought, what do you mean? Do you mean the disallowed goal at City, the header from us? Do you mean the penalty they got in the away game against us? Do you mean the clear red card on Mo Salah in the second half? Do you mean the penalty they got in the second half? Do you mean this decision? Only over two games - and the ones that follow Liverpool know how many decisions of this I can come up with in all the other games as well - only in these two games all the big decisions that could have gone in some situation to a 50-50 or some people say left, some people say right...
I can live with the fact, although I don't like it, that the referee follows the rulebook and Dominik makes a foul on Haaland in that last situation, which is a clear shirt-pull and he was through to goal so he would have scored. So that's a red card. And I think the Sunderland manager is really happy that he gives the red card. So that's the rulebook and you follow the rulebook. And if you follow the rulebook and you have a clear shirt-pull from [Marc] Guehi on Mo Salah, who for eight years is scoring that ball every single time - 100 out of 100 times he scores that goal, a bit exaggerated - and that is not a red card, then there is more of my frustration.
But I can live with the red card for Dom. If you like football you say, 'Ah, leave it as it is, it's a goal, it's good for them, it's good for everyone.' But if you are the Sunderland manager you prefer to see a red card. That's the rule and follow the rules is all we ask.
On the awarding of the penalty to City for Alisson Becker bringing down Matheus Nunes...
If it would have happened on the other side I would have asked for a penalty. If I would have got it, I'm not sure. There is contact, we cannot debate that. The ball is out of play, we cannot debate that. When he [Alisson] makes the foul, he [Nunes] can never get the ball anymore. For me, this is a clear decision. But I would prefer to talk about the holding of Mo because that is so obvious that all the attention should go to that.
This is one where I think but I'm not sure, if the referee doesn't give a penalty - and he was waiting, waiting, waiting and listening to his linesman, at least that's what I thought - and then he gave it, then the VAR will never interfere again. But what if he wouldn't have given it? Would then the VAR have interfered? That's what we will never know. But my main frustration is in the shirt-pull of Mo Salah at 0-0, clear and open, one-v-one to the goalkeeper.
On conceding another late goal in the Premier League and what he puts it down to...
It's every time a different goal, of course. Just before that moment when they scored the 2-1 we went with Curtis [Jones] in a very promising situation, Mo went deep, Curtis is such a special and good player on the ball, so there was a fair chance he would have maybe eight out of 10 times [found Salah]. Guehi had a great interception, a great signing of them. [He] had a great interception in that moment and that is how the margins between these teams are and were today.
I have said many times, the next step for us is not to rely or depend on that pass or another decision. We are getting there, if you compare this to three or four months ago you see so much improvement, but the issue is you don't see this improvement in the league table and that is always the most important reflection of where you are.
On whether Jeremie Frimpong or Joe Gomez could return at Sunderland on Wednesday night...
Jeremie for sure not. We knew this when he got injured, that it was a few weeks. To be honest, I don't expect Joe to be back as well, but you never know. But then he is back after being out for three weeks, would you play him then? You say no, but you don't have to make the decision - I have to make the decision. Let's see what decision we make. We have other players that can play that position as well. Dom - again - played a very good game in that position but unfortunately he is unavailable for Wednesday.
On whether much was changed at half-time leading to an improved second-half display...
No, we did not change that much in our off-the-ball work, but I think in the first half you could see moments where we were really close to winning the ball back in a high press, which didn't happen yet. You also know if you can keep bringing that same energy, both teams maybe get a little bit tired. Off the ball it is not nice to be a bit tired, but on the ball as well you can start making passes that are not as clear and good as they were in the first half with City. Then momentum is coming, fans are behind the team, you get a lot of energy and I think that's what we saw in the second half: [a] very good physical, mental performance from our players.