Arne Slot outlines VAR 'frustration' as Liverpool claim made after Galatasaray

Liverpool has work to do in the second half of its Champions League tie against Galatasaray, with Arne Slot left frustrated by the performance of referee Jesus Gil

Liverpool head coach Arne Slot during a Champions League press conference.(Image: Cem Tekkesinoglu/Anadolu via Getty Images)

Arne Slot was frustrated by the referee's performance as his Liverpool side lost 1-0 to Galatasaray in the Champions League, with Mario Lemina scoring the only goal of the game.

In the second half at RAMS Park, Ibrahima Konate put the ball in the back of the net, only for a VAR check to reveal that the ball went in off his arm. As a result, the goal was chalked off, and Liverpool was unable to get back into the game ahead of the return leg at Anfield next Wednesday.

"It's always very difficult to talk to referees in situations like that because they have communication with the VAR, so they have to listen to what is being said," Slot said in his post-match press conference.

"If it's correct that the goal was disallowed, which is difficult for me to judge because I heard different opinions from people and it's not completely obvious, so that is already one thing.

"But let's say the decision was right, then I was even more frustrated about the fact every free-kick and every corner kick we took, if you only look at Galatasaray players, the referee already gave a free-kick for Galatasaray.

"If you then look at how much they pulled on Virgil [van Dijk]'s shirt before the ball hit Ibou [Konate]'s arm, then it's safe to say we were not the only one impressed by the atmosphere here today."

Arne Slot remonstrates with fourth official Juan Martinez Munuera after Liverpool's Champions League defeat to Galatasaray at Ali Sami Yen Spor Kompleksi(Image: Liverpool FC/Liverpool FC via Getty Images)

The decision to rule out the Konate goal was the right one, but Liverpool only had itself to blame for not scoring. Florian Wirtz and Hugo Ekitike had big chances, and the Reds didn't attack at their best.

"I think they were quite involved, to be honest, especially in the first half, where they had a lot of involvement," Slot, speaking about his forward line, insisted.

"We were — they were — a lot of times close to very promising situations, or even chances, because it felt to me at half-time we missed an opportunity.

"We missed an opportunity to score a goal to be in a much better position than we were at half-time.

"But the reality was that we weren't and then we came out in the second half, immediately get a good chance for [Alexis] Mac Allister's shot and, of course, not much later the one-on-one for Hugo. I think they had their moments.

"In an away game in Europe you cannot expect 15 chances for them, but the quality players they are usually — and another time they will be able to — get more out of these situations than we did today."

Liverpool faces Tottenham next in the Premier League. That game is on Sunday, before the return leg against Galatasaray three days later.