Arne Slot says VAR has gone against Liverpool, does he have a point?

April 16, 2026 Oliver Obel

Liverpool’s Champions League campaign came to an abrupt end at Anfield, but the fallout has focused as much on officiating as on the result itself.

Arne Slot voiced frustration after a key VAR decision went against his side during their defeat to Paris Saint-Germain, a moment he believes reflects a wider pattern across the season.

A decisive moment

Chasing a 2-0 deficit from the first leg, Liverpool were handed a potential lifeline midway through the second half when Alexis Mac Allister went down inside the penalty area.

Referee Maurizio Mariani initially awarded the spot-kick, but the decision was quickly reviewed after VAR official Marco di Bello advised an on-field check.

Replays appeared to show slight contact from PSG defender Willian Pacho, yet the penalty was overturned following the review.

The timing proved costly. Within minutes, Ousmane Dembele struck for PSG, effectively ending the contest. The French side secured a 2-0 win on the night and progressed 4-0 on aggregate, according to BBC Sport.

Slot’s frustration

Speaking after the match, Slot suggested the decision was consistent with what he sees as a trend.

"I'm not surprised," he said. "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.

"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."

His comments point to a broader concern about how VAR is applied, particularly in situations involving minimal contact.

Ongoing debate over consistency

As reported by BBC Sport, Slot referenced earlier incidents, including a penalty awarded against Liverpool at Brentford after VAR upgraded a foul initially given outside the box.

He also mentioned a decision involving Leeds United, although that case was ultimately reviewed and awarded through VAR.

While those examples involved clearer attempts to challenge for the ball, Tuesday’s incident was more ambiguous, with Pacho’s contact appearing minimal. Much depends on how the referee interpreted the action in real time — information that is not publicly detailed.

A season shaped by fine margins

Beyond this match, the numbers suggest Liverpool have had a difficult relationship with VAR decisions.

They have conceded three penalties following VAR intervention in the Premier League this season and have seen more decisions go against them than in their favour overall.

At the same time, official reviews indicate only one clear VAR error involving the club, meaning most calls were judged to be within the system’s guidelines.

Several other incidents have been closely contested, with review panels split on whether on-field decisions were correct, underlining how subjective many of these calls remain.

Complaints about refereeing standards have come from multiple managers this season, but based on the available data, Slot’s frustrations are not without some statistical backing.

Sources: BBC Sport