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Liverpool edged a close Premier League match at Anfield 2-1 over Wolverhampton Wanderers and extended their lead at the league’s top position to seven points. The match was not devoid of controversy, however, as the point of contention was an incident in the first half featuring Liverpool defender Ibrahima Konaté.
In the 31st minute, Konaté was awarded a yellow card for pulling Wolves’ forward Matheus Cunha during a counter-attack. Towards a few minutes to halftime, Konaté was also seen committing another questionable challenge on Cunha along the edge of Liverpool’s penalty box. Following an appeal for a second yellow card by Wolves’ bench and fans, referee Simon Hooper opted to issue just a free-kick, and Konaté remained on the pitch.
Speaking on the decision to substitute Konaté during halftime, Liverpool boss Arne Slot explained his decision in the post-match briefing. Slot explained, “I took him off for that. I witnessed him get his first yellow—that was, in my opinion, a soft yellow. If he had gotten a second one for bumping someone in the shoulder, that would have been a second soft yellow, so then he would have been sent off by two soft yellows. I think the referee also thought that—otherwise he would not have done it.”
Slot continued to describe the dilemma of managing a player suspended for being booked for the second time: “I’ve watched football countless times in my life, and I know that a player and a referee are under pressure then. So every next offense will once more result in perhaps a referee thinking, ‘Perhaps now I should give him [a yellow].’ For Ibou, it is so difficult to play 45 minutes of football against such a good Wolves team. So, I had to take him off because you cannot play football having in your head you can’t commit a foul and playing against such good players Wolves have.”
Wolverhampton Wanderers’ boss Vitor Pereira was infuriated by the event. Pereira, in his post-match interview, stated, “I am not the referee but, yes, for me. the second yellow card should be shown.”
The match itself was one where Liverpool controlled early, taking the lead with goals from Luis Díaz and Mohamed Salah before half-time. Wolves responded in the second half with a goal from Matheus Cunha to create a tense finish. Under pressure, Liverpool held firm to take three points.
This victory seals Liverpool’s position at the top of the Premier League with a seven-point advantage over their nearest rivals. In the rest of the season, the Reds will attempt to maintain their streak while addressing the defensive flaws displayed in recent matches.
