Liverpool’s Slot admits ‘emotions got the better of me’, explaining derby red card

Liverpool’s Slot admits ‘emotions got the better of me’, explaining derby red card
Arne Slot admitted “emotions got the better of me” after he was shown a red card following Liverpool’s fiery 2-2 Premier League draw against neighbors Everton in midweek. (REUTERS)
Updated 14 February 2025

Liverpool’s Slot admits ‘emotions got the better of me’, explaining derby red card

Liverpool’s Slot admits ‘emotions got the better of me’, explaining derby red card
  • Arne Slot admitted “emotions got the better of me” after he was shown a red card following Liverpool’s fiery 2-2 Premier League draw against neighbors Everton in midweek

LIVERPOOL: Arne Slot admitted “emotions got the better of me” after he was shown a red card following Liverpool’s fiery 2-2 Premier League draw against neighbors Everton in midweek.
Liverpool were on course to extend their lead at the top of the table to nine points at Goodison Park on Wednesday but James Tarkowski struck a stunning volley to level in the eighth minute of stoppage time.
Abdoulaye Doucoure’s wild celebrations in front of the away fans sparked a furious reaction, with Liverpool midfielder Curtis Jones confronting Doucoure, leading to the dismissal of both men.
With some supporters on the pitch, stewards and police became involved before Liverpool boss Slot and assistant Sipke Hulshoff were also sent off by referee Michael Oliver.
Slot, whose team host struggling Wolves on Sunday, is now waiting for the Football Association to review Oliver’s match report before he finds out what, if any, sanction he will face.
He could face no further action, be reminded of his responsibilities, or be charged, which would likely result in a touchline ban.
The Dutchman told reporters on Friday there were “many things in extra (stoppage) time that led to me being quite emotional” but was unwilling to go into details about the incident.
“I think what happened was that the extra time, the intentional five minutes that ended up being eight... and the emotions got the better of me,” said.
“And if I could do that differently, if I look back at it, I would love to do it differently. I’m hoping to do it differently next time as well, but what has exactly been said or what has happened, there’s an ongoing process and I don’t want to disturb that.”
Slot, in his first season at Anfield, praised his team’s mental strength in the highly charged atmosphere at Everton, who are much improved in recent weeks under David Moyes, back at Goodison Park for a second spell.
“We’ve been praised so many times this season about how well these players can play, but they showed a different side of themselves on Wednesday, in my opinion also much better than the year before (a 2-0 defeat),” he said.
“They were mentally so, so, so strong during a game that was played maybe in the most difficult circumstances for them as well, and to stay strong together, to fight so hard, to be mentally so strong, that gives me a lot of confidence for the upcoming 14 games.
“I already knew how well they can play, but the togetherness they showed during the 98 minutes shows me that we are a very, very difficult team to beat.”
Moyes, speaking at his own press conference on Friday, expressed his sympathy for the Liverpool manager.
“I feel a bit for Arne Slot because this is the thing when I was a younger manager, I was always getting involved in heated things,” he said.
“It shows he cares about his club and he’s fighting for his players.”


Rai leads by one shot from Hojgaard and Fleetwood heading into final round in Abu Dhabi

Rai leads by one shot from Hojgaard and Fleetwood heading into final round in Abu Dhabi
Updated 7 sec ago

Rai leads by one shot from Hojgaard and Fleetwood heading into final round in Abu Dhabi

Rai leads by one shot from Hojgaard and Fleetwood heading into final round in Abu Dhabi
  • On a low-scoring day at Yas Links, Rai shot 6-under 66 in the third round Saturday to move to 20-under par for the week in the next-to-last event of the 2025 season
  • Rai's second and most recent win on the European tour came in 2020 at the Scottish Open

ABU DHABI: Aaron Rai will take a one-stroke lead into the final round of the Abu Dhabi Championship as he seeks a first title on the European tour in five years.

On a low-scoring day at Yas Links, Rai shot 6-under 66 in the third round Saturday to move to 20-under par for the week in the next-to-last event of the 2025 season.

Nicolai Hojgaard (65) and Tommy Fleetwood (67), the winner in 2017 and 2018 when the event was held at Abu Dhabi Golf Club, were tied for second place and Nacho Elvira (65) was a shot further back.

No. 2-ranked Rory McIlroy, the leader of the season-long Race to Dubai standings, surged toward contention with six birdies in his first 11 holes but his round stalled down the stretch as the wind picked up and he posted a 66 for 14 under, six strokes off the lead.

Rai's second and most recent win on the European tour came in 2020 at the Scottish Open. The 30th-ranked Englishman won the Wyndham Championship on the PGA Tour in August last year.

“This is one of the biggest events we have on the DP World Tour,” Rai said. “To win this week, to have a chance going into the weekend, is great. Still a long way to go and a lot of really good players.”

He birdied five holes on his front nine and picked up more shots on Nos. 11 and 14 before three-putting for bogey at the 17th and parring the par-5 18th.

Likely Rai's biggest threat is Fleetwood, whose end to the season has included winning the Tour Championship for his first PGA Tour title — and picking up $10 million as the FedEx Cup champion, too — as well as the India Championship and starring for Europe in its Ryder Cup triumph at Bethpage Black.

“I’m playing very good golf at the moment and I’ve found myself in this position a lot throughout the summer, but never take it for granted,” Fleetwood said. “This is what we practice for. These are the times of our lives, and I’m enjoying it very much.”

Fleetwood said Rai “played phenomenally well.”

“He was unbelievable today in every department,” he said.