Arne Slot admitted that he decided to substitute Ibrahima Konaté at halftime during Liverpool’s victory against Wolves to prevent the defender from receiving a second yellow card. The Premier League leaders had to navigate a tense and nervy match at Anfield, as James Tarkowski’s dramatic 98th-minute equaliser for Everton in the Merseyside derby earlier in the week had left the team feeling anxious. Despite their 2-0 lead, Liverpool faced pressure from Wolves, with Konaté potentially making things worse by getting into trouble with the referee.
Konaté had already been booked for dragging back Wolves’ Matheus Cunha in the first half. Before the break, he collided with Cunha once again, and although Wolves appealed for a second yellow card, referee Simon Hooper decided not to issue another booking. Slot, Liverpool’s manager, suggested that Konaté could have been sent off for a second soft yellow card if the referee had decided to penalize him for the incident.
Slot explained his decision to remove Konaté at halftime, stating, “I took him off because of that. I saw him get his first yellow, which I felt was soft. If he had received a second for the shoulder push, it would have also been a soft yellow, and he would have been sent off for two soft yellows.” The manager acknowledged that the referee’s decision not to book Konaté again might have been influenced by the pressure on both the player and the referee. He said that when a player is already on a yellow card, the next foul could lead to a sending-off, making it difficult to play under such circumstances.
Slot recognized the challenge of playing with a player on a yellow card against a strong opposition like Wolves, who were aggressive in the second half. “It is so difficult to play 45 minutes against a team like Wolves, and you can’t play with the thought in your head that you can’t make a foul against such good players. That’s why I had to take Ibou off,” Slot explained. The substitution ensured that Konaté would avoid the risk of being sent off, maintaining Liverpool’s numerical advantage on the field.
Despite the challenges, Liverpool managed to hold on to their 2-1 lead, with Mohamed Salah scoring a penalty to give them a cushion. However, Wolves fought back in the second half, and their persistence paid off with Cunha’s strike, which set up a tense finish. The goal brought the game to life and injected some nervous energy into the match, but Slot praised his team’s mental strength throughout the contest, particularly given the emotional toll of the recent Merseyside derby.
“There was some tension in the game, but I don’t think it was just nerves,” Slot said. “It had more to do with how Wolves came out after halftime. We showed incredible mentality on Wednesday in the most difficult circumstances we’ve faced this season, and today, at 2-0 up, we thought we had made it 3-0. But the referee correctly disallowed it for offside, and we thought we had a penalty, but again, that decision was rightly overturned. Then Wolves scored, and that made the game even more challenging mentally.”
Slot reflected on how difficult it had been for the team to maintain focus under pressure, noting that the win against Wolves felt especially important because it highlighted Liverpool’s ability to handle adversity. He contrasted it with their dominant 4-0 win against Tottenham earlier in the season, which was more about outplaying an opponent than battling through a tight and emotional game. “Mentally, it was not easy for us,” Slot admitted. “For the first time this season, it felt like we were thinking: ‘Oh no, this could slip away.’ That’s why these wins are probably more important than when we outplayed Tottenham.”
Slot emphasized that despite the challenges, the team had shown strong mentality, which was key to securing the three points. Looking ahead, he stated that Liverpool needed to maintain this mindset and continue performing at a high level, particularly with difficult matches coming up against teams like Aston Villa and Manchester City. However, he also acknowledged the need for the team to improve on the ball and play better in their upcoming fixtures.
Liverpool’s victory saw them extend their lead at the top of the Premier League to seven points, a crucial result in their bid for the title. Slot’s managerial decisions, particularly regarding Konaté, played a role in ensuring that Liverpool did not let the game slip away. Despite the pressure from Wolves’ second-half surge, Liverpool held their ground and demonstrated the resilience needed to succeed at the highest level.
