Arne Slot admits that he was overwhelmed by his emotions in response to the red card during the Merseyside Derby.

Arne Slot, the Dutch manager of Liverpool, has candidly admitted that the “emotions got the better of me” following his red card in the dramatic Merseyside Derby against Everton, which ended in a 2-2 draw.

The match reached a fever pitch when James Tarkowski scored a last-gasp equaliser in the 97th minute, igniting chaotic scenes at Goodison Park. This late goal not only salvaged a point for Everton but also resulted in three red cards being issued, including one to Slot himself. He was dismissed for his conduct towards referee Michael Oliver after the final whistle.

Reflecting on the incident, Slot said, “What happened was that, during the stoppage time, there was a lot that happened and the emotions got the better of me. I would have loved to do it differently if I could go back. I hope to do it differently the next time as well.” He further noted that the situation surrounding his dismissal is “an ongoing process” and that the club “have to respect that,” although he refrained from delving into specifics.

The draw proved to be a missed opportunity for Liverpool, who could have extended their lead over Arsenal at the top of the Premier League to nine points. As it stands, they remain seven points clear of Mikel Arteta’s injury-stricken side, but Slot expressed disappointment at not capitalising on the chance. “It felt immediately after the referee blew his whistle that we lost two points,” he lamented.

He continued, “But during the 98 minutes, I didn’t feel constantly that we were going to win the game. It felt like an equal game and the draw would’ve been a fair result. But with us leading after 96 minutes, we felt we were close to winning the game.”

Despite the setback, the former Feyenoord boss took several positives from the encounter. He is keen to emulate the likes of Jose Mourinho, Carlo Ancelotti, Manuel Pellegrini, and Antonio Conte by becoming only the fifth manager to win the Premier League title in his debut season.

“We won a lot on Wednesday as well, and what I mean by that is, when you look at the togetherness of the fans and the players and how much we fought together to get the result,” Slot explained. “We have been praised so many times this season for how well they can play, but the players showed a different side of themselves.”

He added, “In my opinion, it was much better than the year before. They were mentally so, so strong in a game that was played in the most difficult circumstances for them as well. It gives me a lot of confidence for the upcoming 14 games.”

As Liverpool look ahead, Slot’s reflections and the resilience shown by his squad could prove pivotal in their pursuit of the Premier League title.