“The league is dangerously rigged for Liverpool over Arsenal”- Wolves Boss Vitor Pereira fumes that Liverpool star should have been sent off against Wolves in a decision that may affect Arsenal’s shot at the Premier League title
“The league is dangerously rigged for Liverpool over Arsenal”- Wolves Boss Vitor Pereira fumes that Liverpool star should have been sent off against Wolves in a decision that may affect Arsenal’s shot at the Premier League title
Vitor Pereira fumes that Liverpool star should have been sent off against Wolves
Vitor Pereira was left unhappy after Ibrahima Konate escaped a red card in Liverpool’s 2-1 win against Wolves.
Arne Slot’s side regained their seven point lead at the top of the Premier League following a hard-fought victory at Anfield on Sunday.
Luis Diaz and Mohamed Salah struck in the first-half but Liverpool were outplayed after the break, with Matheus Cunha’s wonder goal setting up a nervy last few minutes.
Things could – and perhaps should – have been a lot more nervy for the Reds, with some feeling Konate should have been booked twice in the opening 45 minutes.
The centre-back was shown a yellow card for pulling back Cunha and just minutes later he barged into the Wolves forward to concede a free-kick on the edge of the box.
Away players and fans screamed for a second yellow as referee Simon Hooper showed leniency toward the France international, but knowing he was living dangerously, Slot subbed Konate off for Jarrell Quansah at half-time.
Wolves boss Pereira was sure Konate should have been given his marching orders, telling Match of the Day: ‘I am not the referee but yes for me.
What I say now will not change anything but in my opinion the second yellow card should be shown.’
He later told Sky Sports: ‘Everything I can say now will not change the decision. I have my opinion but I keep it to myself. It is better not to speak about referees.
‘Second yellow card, maybe. It would be different but it is what it is. I am not a referee. I am very happy, very proud of my players for what we did in the second half.’
Speaking in the post-match press conference, Slot confirmed Konate was subbed off out of fear he could receive a red card, but defended his player and claimed that neither foul warranted a booking.
‘Yes, I took him off because of that,’ the Dutchman – who could yet receive a touchline ban for a red card in the Merseyside derby – said.
‘I saw him getting his first yellow – that for me was a soft yellow. If he had gotten his second one for a shoulder push, that would have again been a soft yellow so he would have been sent off for two soft yellows.
‘I think the referee felt the same, that’s why he didn’t [book him again]. But I’ve watched football so many times in my life and I know that a player and the referee is then under pressure.
‘So every next foul will lead again to maybe a referee that thinks maybe he should give it. I think back to three days ago.
‘But for Ibou, it is so difficult to play 45 minutes of football against a strong Wolves team so I had to take him off because you can’t play football knowing in your head you can’t make a foul against such good players as Wolves have.’
Having avoided a red, Konate will be available to face Aston Villa on Wednesday night.
