Arne Slot Stands Firm on Liverpool’s Penalty Decision Against Bournemouth | OneFootball

Arne Slot Dismisses Controversy Over Liverpool’s Penalty Against Bournemouth

Liverpool’s Control and Slot’s Verdict

Liverpool’s 2-0 victory over Bournemouth reinforced their grip at the top of the Premier League table, with a decisive display that saw Arne Slot’s side extend their lead over Arsenal to nine points. However, the match was not without debate, as Cody Gakpo won a first-half penalty that Mohamed Salah duly converted.

For Slot, there was no dispute over the decision. The Liverpool head coach was direct in his post-match comments, shutting down any suggestions of controversy. “Controversy from who? Online, there is always controversy! Especially from fans that are not in favour of Liverpool.”

Slot’s comments reflect a broader reality of modern football, where social media scrutiny amplifies every key decision. But in real time, the incident appeared straightforward—Gakpo, through on goal, was clipped. The referee pointed to the spot, VAR did not intervene, and Salah made no mistake from 12 yards.

Gakpo’s Penalty and the VAR Debate

Slot’s assessment of the situation was logical. “The only thing I can say — and I haven’t seen it back — is that one of my players is on a clear one-vs-one with the goalkeeper, and he is falling down. So either he makes a dive or they touch him. And if they touch him, it is a penalty for me.”

Photo IMAGO

That much is undeniable. The challenge in question, whether minimal or not, was enough to unbalance Gakpo in a high-stakes situation. It was a pivotal moment in the match, and while replays were inconclusive regarding the extent of contact, the referee’s decision stood.

Slot reinforced his point by drawing comparisons to previous incidents. “I can come up with three, four or five examples when we didn’t get the luck we deserved or we didn’t get the decision we deserved. But that is always the difficult thing in football.”

Liverpool’s Dominance Beyond the Penalty

The result itself was not dictated by this single moment. Salah’s second goal, a stunning finish in the final quarter of the match, underlined Liverpool’s superiority. Bournemouth, in strong form prior to this fixture, struggled to create meaningful chances, while Liverpool controlled the tempo and executed Slot’s game plan effectively.

Slot addressed the wider narrative, dismissing the notion that luck plays a major role in Liverpool’s success. “If there is one in your favour, people will always say it is the luck for Liverpool or the one who is number one at the moment. For me, it has nothing to do with luck.”

Liverpool’s lead at the top is a product of their consistency, quality, and depth. As Slot pointed out, Gakpo’s position at the time of the foul made the penalty a simple decision. “It is a clear one-vs-one, and I can tell you if Cody Gakpo goes one-on-one with the goalkeeper, it is quite a big chance as well.”

The argument was not about whether Liverpool deserved the win, but rather the ever-present debate about refereeing calls in football. Slot’s response was clear—this was no stroke of fortune, just another example of a dominant Liverpool performance.