Liverpool manager Arne Slot has defended the referee’s decision to add only three minutes of stoppage time in Saturday’s 2-1 Merseyside derby victory over Everton, dismissing claims his side deliberately slowed the game.
Everton manager David Moyes labelled the added time “very strange,” while winger Jack Grealish accused Liverpool of attempting to disrupt the flow of the match. Grealish was booked after the final whistle for confronting the referee about the decision.
Liverpool appeared to be in full control after first-half goals from Ryan Gravenberch and Hugo Ekitike put them 2-0 ahead. However, Idrissa Gueye’s second-half strike reignited Everton’s hopes, leading to a sustained push for an equaliser in the closing stages.
The controversy stemmed from the brief stoppage time, which some Everton players and staff felt denied them a fair chance to capitalise on their late momentum.
Slot rejected those accusations, insisting that the referee’s calculation was accurate:
“A lot has been said about the added time against Everton, but I would have loved to play three or four seconds more because we were in a five-v-two situation at that moment,” he told Liverpool’s club website.
“That shows our mentality — always wanting to score a goal. The three minutes were completely correct, by the way, because there were only three substitution breaks. There was no time-wasting, because that’s not what we do, and there were no injury stoppages. One goal was scored, that was it.”
Slot’s comments reflect his effort to frame Liverpool as proactive rather than conservative, countering Everton’s narrative of gamesmanship.
With the derby now behind them, Liverpool turn their attention to a League Cup third-round tie against Southampton on Tuesday before a Premier League trip to Crystal Palace on Saturday. Slot will be keen to maintain momentum, with Liverpool sitting top of the table despite the derby controversy.
