Arne Slot: Liverpool boss bemoans VAR decision to overturn penalty in Champions League exit to PSG
Liverpool were frustrated by well-drilled PSG in their 4-0 aggregate Champions League defeat but had a penalty decision overturned at a key moment; the referee adjudged Willian Pacho to have fouled Alexis Mac Allister but changed his mind after being sent to the monitor
Wednesday 15 April 2026 14:54, UK
Arne Slot wasn't surprised Liverpool's penalty against Paris Saint-Germain was overturned as he believes "so many decisions have gone against" his club this season.
Liverpool were dumped out of the Champions League after another 2-0 quarter-final defeat to PSG at Anfield saw them beaten 4-0 on aggregate.
Liverpool produced a spirited performance that unsettled the European champions until Ousmane Dembele punished them twice late in the game. There were good moments for the Reds, especially when Alexis Mac Allister thought he had won a penalty at 0-0, only for it to be controversially revoked by the referee following a VAR review.
- Liverpool 0-2 PSG (Agg: 0-4) - Match report
- As it happened | Teams | Stats
- Champions League results and fixtures
"It's soft, but in my opinion it is a penalty," said Tim Sherwood who was watching the game on Soccer Special.
Slot, speaking to Amazon Prime, said: "I'm not surprised as so many decisions have gone against us this season.
"It's quite simple. If the referee doesn't give a penalty the VAR would have never overturned it but I've seen so many soft penalties given but people say VAR can't interfere because there is contact. That is what we clearly see."
Liverpool defender Ibrahima Konate added: "For me it was a clear penalty. I was behind the referee. If we get the penalty and score it would have been completely different."
However, PSG were unfortunate not to be awarded at least one spot kick in the first leg, with VAR overturning the referee's decision to penalise Konate for a foul on Warren Zaire-Emery, then opting not to punish the defender for a push on Nuno Mendes.
In the post-match press conference at Anfield, Sky Sports News' Vinny O'Connor said he was surprised the penalty decision was overturned given there was contact.
"Me too," replied Slot. "But not when it comes to us because this has happened to us multiple times this season.
"I think it was Rodri or Bernardo Silva who said they [Manchester City] have been very unlucky with referees this season. I heard them say this one month ago, something like that.
"If you can say that, then remember both games you played against us, how many decisions then went against us. So what does this tell you about us?"
Slot: The future looks good
Liverpool have failed to build on their Premier League winning season under Slot last year despite signing the likes of Alexander Isak and Florian Wirtz in the summer.
Slot has come under pressure to keep his job, such has been their underperformance, and they still have a job on to secure a top-five finish in the Premier League to play Champions League football next season.
Slot said: "Much has been said that the club is in a transition. The club has sold 8-10 players to make money to sign five or so very talented players.
"We have to sell to buy. We are losing some players on a free transfer, Mo Salah and Andy Robertson.
"It is a big challenge in the summer but the club has shown this model works. As I said many times the future looks very good, especially if we can sign players after good players leaving this summer."
