Liverpool’s Goalless Draw with Leeds: Manager’s Frustration Over Penalty Decisions

Liverpool faced a disappointing goalless draw against Leeds on New Year’s Day, leaving manager Slot exasperated over the decision not to award a penalty to striker Hugo Ekitike. Ekitike’s decision to stay on his feet during a challenge in the box was seen as commendable by Slot. However, he highlighted numerous instances this season where Liverpool has conceded what he deemed “soft penalties.”

In a press conference, Slot commented, “No, he stayed on his feet. Had he gone down, it likely would have been a penalty. I understand his reluctance to fall, especially since we have been denied penalties after being fouled in the box several times this season. This could lead players to think, ‘Let’s try to remain standing.’ We’ve conceded several penalties with minimal contact, such as in our matches against Brentford and Crystal Palace. When fouls against us occur, like the one on Cody Gakpo at Brentford, the referee decided to let play continue, which may influence our players to avoid going down. Consequently, it becomes challenging for VAR or a referee to award a penalty if a player remains on his feet.”

Slot drew inspiration from Postecoglou’s approach, emphasizing his commitment to his team’s style of play. “We continue to play as we always have. I don’t believe that over the course of a season, you receive what you deserve. Sometimes decisions go against you, and at other times, they favor you. However, I do believe that over multiple seasons, things tend to balance out. I think it’s fair to say we have only been awarded one penalty this season, which is surprising for a team that maintains so much possession and constantly attacks the opponent’s box. I won’t encourage my players to exaggerate contact to win penalties; doing so would likely mean we never receive one again.”

“We are who we are. We won the league last season by adhering to our identity. While there may be isolated incidents, such as Milos Kerkez going down at Burnley without being fouled, the majority of the time, we stay on our feet. For instance, during our match against West Ham, Lucas Paqueta attempted to provoke a second yellow card, and one of my players tried to assist him by not falling. Do we ever gain any advantage from that? It’s a rhetorical question.”

Currently, Liverpool occupies fourth place in the Premier League, trailing leaders Arsenal by 12 points. They had recently secured three consecutive victories, alleviating concerns about a slump, but the draw with Leeds serves as another indicator that the team has not yet fully found its rhythm this season. In contrast, Leeds, under Daniel Farke, sits in 16th place, comfortably seven points above the relegation zone.

Liverpool’s next match is against Fulham, followed by a challenging encounter with league leaders Arsenal. While a championship title may be out of reach, Liverpool could significantly influence the outcome of the league with their upcoming performances.