Liverpool manager Arne Slot has voiced his disapproval of the offside rule that allowed Diogo Jota’s goal to stand in their 1-0 victory over Everton on Wednesday, though he acknowledged the decision was correctly applied.
Jota’s strike just before the hour mark secured Liverpool’s win at Anfield, extending their lead at the top of the Premier League to 12 points. The controversy arose when Luis Díaz, initially in an offside position, capitalized on a loose ball after James Tarkowski intercepted a pass. Díaz then set up Jota, who fired in his first goal since January.
Everton manager David Moyes expressed his frustration, calling it a “clearly offside goal.” However, Slot conceded that the referees had followed the rules correctly since Tarkowski had deliberately played the ball.
"It was not offside, according to the rules," Slot said. "Do I like the rule? No, I don't like the rule. I hate that rule, but the execution of it was correct in this case."
The goal was the second major talking point of the match after Tarkowski avoided a red card for a reckless challenge on Alexis Mac Allister just 11 minutes in. Despite the severity of the tackle, referee Samuel Barrott issued only a yellow card, and VAR did not intervene to review the decision.
Former Manchester United captain Gary Neville, working as a pundit, labeled the challenge a "leg breaker," while Moyes admitted that his captain was fortunate to remain on the pitch.
"Since I have seen it, we could have been lucky we didn’t get a red," Moyes admitted. "It looked high, and the follow-through made it look worse."
