Arne Slot frustrated by Leeds United’s ‘street-wise’ approach and refereeing in Anfield stalemate

Liverpool were held to a goalless draw by Leeds United on New Year’s Day, leaving head coach Arne Slot irritated by his side’s lack of cutting edge and aspects of the officiating.

Liverpool head coach Arne Slot admitted his frustration after watching his side fail to break down a resolute Leeds United defence in a 0–0 draw at Anfield.

The visitors produced a disciplined and compact display, limiting Liverpool to few clear chances and protecting goalkeeper Lucas Perri effectively throughout the contest. Slot praised Leeds for their organisation inside the penalty area but conceded that his side were unable to produce the decisive moment needed to unlock the defence.

“The simple answer is that we didn’t score,” Slot said. “When a team defends so well around their box, you need something special to break them down. There are different ways to do that. Sometimes it’s a set-piece — we were close with Virgil — or an individual moment of quality, like we saw against Wolves with Jeremie Frimpong.

“He had a few moments today as well. But when you look at the bigger picture, we had a lot of possession — more than any team in the league this season — and possession means very little if you don’t create enough chances.”

Slot revealed that he urged his players at half-time to commit more bodies forward, but found it difficult to disrupt Leeds’ low defensive block.

“To create against a low block, you need individual quality or special moments to create overloads,” he added. “Another way is through counter-pressing or winning the ball high up the pitch, but in the second half their goalkeeper kicked almost every ball long. That makes it harder to find space close to goal.

“I saw a team that kept trying, but it was very difficult to find an opening.”

Slot critical of refereeing decisions

Slot was visibly unhappy with referee Chris Kavanagh during the match and voiced his displeasure over time-wasting, the number of free-kicks awarded to Leeds, and a first-half incident involving Jaka Bijol and Hugo Ekitike in the penalty area.

The Liverpool boss suggested that Ekitike’s decision to stay on his feet may have cost his side a potential penalty.

“No, because he stayed on his feet,” Slot explained. “If he goes down, it’s probably a penalty, but I understand why he didn’t. So many times this season we haven’t been given penalties because our players stayed upright.

“We’ve conceded penalties with hardly any contact — very soft ones — while fouls on us are often waved away. It’s difficult for VAR to intervene when a player stays on his feet.”

Slot also accused Leeds players of going to ground easily in the second half to disrupt Liverpool’s momentum.

“I saw players being what I call ‘smart’,” he said. “Maybe it is smart to fall over constantly and hope the referee recognises it, but it’s frustrating to watch.

“We conceded five or six free-kicks in and around their box. Against Manchester United, we had a player needing stitches from a head injury and play continued. Today, there was minimal contact and the whistle was blown immediately. That’s not the reason we didn’t win, but it’s why I’m sometimes frustrated.”

Despite his complaints, Slot insisted Liverpool will continue to encourage their players to stay honest.

“We will keep doing things the same way,” he said. “I don’t believe you always get what you deserve in a single season, but over two, three or four seasons things balance out.

“We are who we are. Of course, there will be one or two moments people can point to where we went down too easily — I remember Kerkez at Burnley — but overall, I see it happening far too often in football now.”