HUGO DROSS

Ekitike's bizarre miss as Slot slackers blow it

- BY ANDY DUNN

TO be fair, Arne Slot did not trumpet his grievance as the reason for another disappointing staging post in Liverpool's title defence.

But he certainly believes his players are victims of their own honesty. After a match almost bereft of talking points, Slot spoke at length about Hugo Ekitike remaining upright despite some close attention from Jaka Bijol early in the first half.

Referee Chris Kavanagh saw no offence, VAR man Darren England felt no need to intervene.

"If he (Ekitike) would have fallen down, it would probably have been a penalty but this season, so many times, when we were fouled, we did not get a penalty," said Slot.

"Our players try to stay on their feet and then it is hard for the VAR to interfere.