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Liverpool head coach Arne Slot strongly criticized the referee’s decision to award a penalty against Dominik Szoboszlai in their 1-0 loss to Galatasaray in the UEFA Champions League on Tuesday, saying his side had been undone by exaggerated gamesmanship.
Slot argued that the Hungarian midfielder had not committed a clear foul in the incident that led to the decisive goal, insisting that Galatasaray maximized minimal contact to influence the referee’s call.
"They make a 20% penalty into a 100% penalty, which is very smart from them," Slot said after the match in Istanbul.
Beyond the controversy, Slot pointed to squad limitations as a continuing challenge for Liverpool. He explained that several players had missed pre-season training, which continues to affect their fitness and match rhythm.
"We have to rotate because players are involved in too many matches," the Dutchman said. "When two or three are injured, we are left with only 15 or 16 players. Managing the squad under these conditions is not easy."
Slot stressed that the physical strain has forced him to make frequent changes, adding that such disruptions inevitably carry risks during a demanding Champions League schedule.
For Galatasaray, the victory came as a much-needed response following their opening 5-1 loss to Eintracht Frankfurt. The win at RAMS Park delivered their first points of the group stage and restored momentum in front of home fans.
Liverpool, meanwhile, remains on three points after two matches, having started with a win over Atletico Madrid. Their next test is away to Chelsea in the Premier League, a fixture Slot described as another difficult challenge.
"The margins are small, and they were last season as well," he said. "For the second match in a row, we are on the wrong side."
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