Arne Slot admitted the rule that allowed **Diogo Jota**’s winning goal in the Merseyside derby to stand does not often help the team that wants to attack — albeit Liverpool benefitted this time.
The Premier League leaders moved 12 points clear with the 1-0 win over Everton but the Liverpool head coach said he “hates” the rule that allows a player to be offside in the build-up to a goal, provided they do not interfere with play, before then coming back onside to play a part.
The rulebook says that a player has to be “clearly attempting to play a ball which is close when this action impacts on an opponent” to be judged offside.
Luis Diaz came from an offside position to regain possession from a James Tarkowski attempted clearance to set up Jota in the 57th minute, and was therefore not active in the first phase of play.
“Do I like the rule? No, I don’t like the rule,” Slot said. “It’s a rule that is not helping the team that wants to attack. Normally we go to the halfway line, they [the opposition] kick the ball long to a player who is in an offside position, and my centre-backs feel like they have to head the ball away.
“I ask the linesman: ‘Was he offside?’. And they say: ‘No, he was not interfering’. I hate that rule. But the execution of the rule was fortunately for us today, well done in that situation.”
Getty: Richard Martin Roberts
Getty: Richard Martin Roberts
David Moyes, who saw his side lose for the first time in ten matches, felt his team were unfortunate to concede in such a manner but had no qualms that Liverpool were the better side.
“Liverpool were the better team, no complaints with that,” Moyes said. “We had some opportunities and we did a great job, we were resilient. But it’s disappointing to lose a goal that is clearly offside. It is quite an easy one to give.”
'Tarkowski tackle a straight red'
Jota’s goal was not the only officiating talking point from this derby tussle. Tarkowski was hugely fortunate not to be sent off after 11 minutes for a reckless challenge on Alexis Mac Allister.
The centre back went to clear the ball but also poleaxed the Argentina international. Although both of Tarkowki’s feet were off the ground and he connected with Mac Allister’s shin, referee Sam Barrott only cautioned him and VAR chose not to intervene.
Getty: Liverpool FC
Getty: Liverpool FC
Former Everton striker, Duncan Ferguson, who was working as a pundit for Sky Sports and was not afraid of a tackle during his playing career, said it was a “straight red all day long”, and even Moyes felt his player had got away with one.
“I thought at the time it was a brilliant tackle,” the Everton manager said. “But since I have seen it again, we could have been lucky we didn’t get a red. It was a high one. I think it was the follow through that looked worse.”
Slot, one of four players and coaches sent off in the first meeting with Everton in February, remained more diplomatic but made no secret of his opinion about the challenge.
“*I don’t want to comment about that situation because so many people have already commented on it,” Slot said. “Even people who don’t like Liverpool were clear and obvious what the decision should have been that there’s no need for me to comment on that. Was I surprised? No.*”