We couldn't take the risk

ARNE Slot said he couldn't take a risk as he explained his decision to withdraw Milos Kerkez in the first half of Liverpool's 1-0 victory over Burnley.

- By THEO SQUIRES ECHO Reporter

The Hungarian was booked for simulation midway through the first half before being replaced by Andy Robertson in the 38th minute.

The Dutchman, who was seen having a brief exchange with the 21-year-old on the sidelines after taking him off, admitted the left-back was 'not smart' for diving as he conceded his yellow card played a part in his decision to replace the defender.

Having already taken off Kerkez on the hour-mark against AFC Bournemouth on the opening day of the season after he had been booked, Slot conceded the risk of a red card was not a gamble he was willing to make.

"Yes, I said already to him that it wasn't smart," he said. He replied to me that he felt some arm in his back. But let's be clear, it wasn’t a penalty!

"It is funny that the two dives we have had in the one-and-a-bit years I've been here, they have both led to a yellow card so we're not really good at it. I see it happening a lot without the referee giving a yellow, but the moment we do it...

“It was a dive, he told me he felt something but it wasn’t a foul so it's not smart.