Slot highlighted a moment in the 64th minute, with the score still 0-0. Dominik Szoboszlai's shot from outside the box deflected off a PSG player, sending the ball into the penalty area. Alexis Mac Allister attempted to shield the ball, then went down after contact from Willian Pacho.

Italian referee Maurizio Mariani immediately blew his whistle and pointed to the penalty spot. However, after a pitch-side VAR review, he overturned his decision. Subsequently, Liverpool conceded two goals from Ousmane Dembele's strikes, resulting in a 0-4 aggregate elimination.

"Looking at the whole season, I am not surprised Liverpool has faced many unfavorable decisions," Slot stated post-match. "If the referee hadn't initially awarded the penalty, VAR would not have intervened. We often see penalties given for minimal contact. This situation clearly involved contact as well."

Alexis Mac Allister and Willian Pacho's collision in the penalty box. *The Athletic*

Slot also referenced Manchester City captain Bernardo Silva's comments about his team's perceived bad luck with refereeing calls. "When I heard that, I just thought that if they feel unlucky, they should look at what's happening to Liverpool," he remarked.

The Dutch coach believes this issue is not confined to the Champions League, but also frequently occurs in the Premier League, often disadvantaging Liverpool. This season, he previously voiced concerns about referees and VAR after a 0-1 loss to Galatasaray in the Champions League round of 16 first leg, a 2-2 draw with Fulham, and a 0-3 loss to Manchester City in the Premier League.

Center-back Ibrahima Konate also disagreed with the referee's call. "For me, that was a clear penalty. If we had scored, the game could have been completely different," the French defender stated.

Former Premier League referee Mark Clattenburg also asserted it was a clear contact play, with sufficient grounds for VAR not to overturn the on-field decision. He noted the PSG defender's "clumsy challenge" impacted Mac Allister's leg, expressing surprise that VAR recommended a review.

According to former striker Wayne Rooney, he initially considered it minor contact, but argued that once a penalty was awarded, VAR should not intervene to reverse the call. He highlighted Liverpool's misfortune in a situation that could have altered the game's trajectory.

Conversely, former Liverpool striker Daniel Sturridge maintained it was a clear penalty. He believed there was sufficient contact to warrant a foul, and any impact within the box justifies a penalty decision.

Former midfielder Clarence Seedorf provided a more balanced viewpoint. He acknowledged the potential for debate regarding the incident, but cautioned against evaluating the entire match based on one play, noting PSG created numerous chances and exhibited superiority throughout.

Head coach Arne Slot reacts during Liverpool's 0-2 loss to PSG in the Champions League quarter-final second leg, at Anfield, Liverpool, England on 14/4. *Reuters*

The defeat to PSG leaves Liverpool competing solely in the Premier League, where they currently sit fifth and are not guaranteed a Champions League spot next season. Consequently, Slot faces immense pressure, particularly after Liverpool spent over 600 million USD to bolster their squad in summer 2025.

The Dutch coach indicated Liverpool is undergoing a transition. "We sold 8-10 players for reinvestment, and key players like Mohamed Salah and Andy Robertson will depart on free transfers," he explained. "The summer presents a significant challenge, but this model has proven effective. Liverpool's future remains bright if we continue to make sensible squad additions."

Hong Duy (according to Sky Sports)