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Arne Slot has admitted the fear of Milos Kerkez getting sent off - and how the Burnley fans could influence the referee - was the deciding factor behind his ruthless substitution during Liverpool’s win on Sunday.
The Reds managed to maintain their perfect start to the Premier League season, although they once again left it late as Mohamed Salah’s stoppage time penalty earned a 1-0 win at Turf Moor.
It had threatened to be a frustrating afternoon for the visitors, who looked destined to drop their first points of the campaign until Hannibal Mejbri’s handball, with a number of Liverpool’s players struggling - not least Kerkez.
The left-back suffered the embarrassment of being hauled off before half-time, having been walking a tightrope after a needless yellow card for diving midway through the opening 45 minutes.
Kerkez managed to avoid further punishment, despite fouling Jaidon Anthony as the Burnley forward looked to break, but that was enough for Slot to cut his game short, with Andy Robertson coming on in his place.
Explaining his decision, Slot said: “It was because he got a yellow card. I think the fans here thought a chance for them to win the game is if we ended up with a second yellow.
"With Milos, I can never be 100 per cent he doesn't make the next foul, then the fans are on top of the referee. I thought the only way we could lose it today was if we went down to 10 men."
Despite the ruthless nature of the decision, Slot was applauded by the likes of Jamie Carragher and Roy Keane for taking the initiative and substituting Kerkez, rather than risk the Hungarian getting sent off.
Giving his thoughts on the game, Slot told BBC Sport: "Compliments to Burnley for the way they defended. It was difficult for us to find an opening and a few times we were close.
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“If we had scored the game may have been open but because we didn't, they did the same thing. We had to wait until the end phase of the second half, and in the final stages we got what we were hoping for.
"There is a chance it will fall in the way you want, but it was difficult because they had players behind the ball. We needed a moment of luck, or a moment of magic. We didn't have the magic but we had the luck. You are hoping and trying to make it more difficult, but they were strong.
"Mo Salah for as long as he has been at Liverpool has been good for us. It was a great moment for us because I think he missed the last two."
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