Ex-PGMOL chief backs Arne Slot over controversial moment in Liverpool win on Saturday

“Slot’s view is the right one. The referee should have stopped the game. Did it look right? No. Was it easier for the referee to stop the game? Of course it was. He’s put himself under criticism from the manager. I’m supportive of what he has to say. He’s saying it as it is. Why didn’t he stop the game?”

Image via Sky Sports

Want more Empire of the Kop coverage? Add us as a preferred source on Google to your favourites list for news you can trust

Should the referee have stopped the play?

While it’s unsurprising that Slot and Glasner had differing views on the incident, it’s also divided opinion among multiple ex-Premier League referees.

Whereas Hackett admonished Madley for not stopping the play, Mike Dean claimed there was ‘nothing’ the on-field official could do, and Dermot Gallagher told Sky Sports that the whistler was ‘hamstrung’ and was unlucky that the ball ended up in the Liverpool net, as otherwise no controversy would’ve erupted.

The home fans at Anfield were enraged at what they saw as unsporting behaviour from Munoz in scoring the goal with Woodman down injured, with one spectator even throwing a ball at the Colombian right-back when he prepared to take a throw-in shortly afterwards.

However, it’s arguable that, had the incident happened the other way around, Reds supporters would insist that their player was right to carry on with the game if the referee didn’t stop it.

Madley could’ve spared himself a lot of bother if he’d simply interrupted the play when the Liverpool goakeeper was on the ground, and from his position he should’ve been able to see that Woodman was stricken.

It was a preventable and unsavoury moment at Anfield on Saturday, but thankfully it didn’t prevent Slot’s side from claiming a crucial victory in their pursuit of Champions League qualification.