Liverpool secured a tense 2-1 victory over Wolves at Anfield, but the game didn’t pass without controversy.
Wolves manager Vitor Pereira was left fuming over a key refereeing decision, believing Ibrahima Konaté should have been sent off.
The French defender had already been booked for pulling back Matheus Cunha in the first half and then committed another foul on the same player just minutes later.
However, the referee opted not to show a second yellow, a decision that left Pereira frustrated, especially as his team pushed hard for a late equalizer.
Pereira Slams Referee’s Decision
Speaking after the game, Pereira didn’t hold back his thoughts on the matter.
“I’m not the referee, but yes, for me, it was a second yellow,” he said.
“What I say now won’t change anything, but in my opinion, he should have been sent off.”
The Wolves boss was also shown a yellow card himself for dissent but insisted he did nothing wrong.
“I don’t know why I was carded—maybe because I’m emotional when I’m competing.
I’m not watching a movie on my sofa; I’m here to fight for my team,” he explained.
“I wasn’t disrespectful, in my opinion. But I had to accept a lot of decisions today.”
Despite the frustration, Pereira acknowledged that Wolves needed to improve their first-half performance.
“We need to play the first half like we did in the second. That’s what I want to see—our personality, courage, and identity. Wolves woke up at halftime.”
Liverpool’s Response: Konaté’s Substitution Explained
Liverpool manager Arne Slot admitted he took Konaté off to avoid further risk but defended the initial decision.
“I saw him get his first yellow, and I thought it was soft,” Slot said.
“If he had been given a second for a shoulder push, that would have been soft too. I think the referee felt the same, which is why he didn’t book him again.”
However, Slot knew keeping Konaté on the pitch was risky.
“I’ve watched enough football to know that once a player is on a yellow, every foul puts them under pressure.
So I had to take him off because you can’t play knowing you can’t make a challenge—especially against a team like Wolves.”
Liverpool’s Mentality in a Tough Battle
Slot also acknowledged that his team faced serious pressure in the closing stages but emphasized the importance of grinding out wins in difficult moments.
“I don’t think it was nerves. Wolves came out strong, and on Wednesday, we had to show immense mentality in even tougher circumstances,” he said.
The Liverpool boss stressed how hard it is to win consistently, especially when expectations are so high.
“People always say, ‘Oh, you have Mo Salah, so you’ll score,’ but it’s not that simple,” he added.
“Winning every three days is tough, especially with everything we go through in a season.
That’s why this win is so important ahead of a difficult week.
We hope to bring the same mentality into our next games while improving our play on the ball.”
What’s Next?
With this hard-fought victory, Liverpool maintains their seven-point lead at the top of the Premier League.
Wolves, on the other hand, will be hoping to bounce back and turn their frustration into a strong response in their next fixture.
Both teams have crucial matches ahead, and if this game was anything to go by, the drama in the Premier League is far from over.
This article was published on TDPel Media. Thanks for reading!
Share on Facebook «||» Share on Twitter «||» Share on Reddit «||» Share on LinkedIn