Liverpool manager Slot addresses red card in Merseyside derby: 'Emotions got the better of me'

LIVERPOOL, England (AP) — Liverpool manager Arne Slot has regrets about his conduct that earned him a red card in the wild scenes after the Merseyside derby during the week.

Slot appeared to aggressively shake the hand of referee Michael Oliver and make some comments to the official amid the post-match chaos at the 2-2 draw with Everton, which equalized in the eighth minute of stoppage time on Wednesday.

He was one of four people to receive red cards after the game, along with his assistant, Sipke Hulshoff, and two players — Liverpool's Curtis Jones and Everton's Abdoulaye Doucoure — following their confrontation.

The Dutch coach wasn’t allowed to speak to media after the game, as per Premier League rules regarding managers who receive red cards, so he addressed the events for the first time Friday, saying “many things in extra time happened that led to me being quite emotional.”

“The emotions got the better of me and if I look back, I would love to do it differently,” Slot said. “I'm hoping to do it differently next time."

He would not comment on the precise reason why he was red-carded, however.

“What has exactly been said and what has happened, there's an ongoing process and I don't want to disturb that,” Slot said.

“I should have acted differently after the game,” he added, “but it's an emotional sport and sometimes individuals, out of emotion, make the wrong decision and that's what I did.”

Slot was speaking ahead of Liverpool's home match against Wolverhampton on Sunday, and said forward Cody Gakpo was a doubt because of an injury that forced him to be substituted in the second half against Everton.

Liverpool leads the league by seven points from Arsenal.

AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer

Liverpool's Curtis Jones, second from right, is separated by teammates and members of the ground staff following a clash with Everton's Abdoulaye Doucoure after the final whistle in a Premier League soccer match at Goodison Park, Wednesday, Feb. 12, 2025, in Liverpool. (Nick Potts/PA via AP)

Liverpool's Curtis Jones, second from right, and Everton's Abdoulaye Doucoure are separated by teammates and members of the ground staff following a clash after the final whistle in a Premier League soccer match at Goodison Park, Wednesday, Feb. 12, 2025, in Liverpool. (Nick Potts/PA via AP)

Referee Michael Oliver shows a red card to Liverpool's Curtis Jones during the English Premier League soccer match between Everton and Liverpool, Liverpool, England, Wednesday, Feb.12, 2025. (AP Photo/Dave Thompson)

Liverpool's manager Arne Slot greets the crowd after winning the English League Cup semifinal second leg soccer match between Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur at Anfield Stadium in Liverpool, England, Thursday, Feb. 6, 2025. (AP Photo/Jon Super)

ISLAMABAD (AP) — A gas cylinder explosion early Sunday after a wedding reception at a home in Pakistan’s capital killed at least eight people, including the bride and groom, police and officials said.

The blast occurred as guests who had gathered to celebrate the couple were sleeping at the house, causing part of the house to collapse, according to the Islamabad police. Seven people were injured.

In a statement, police said the explosion occurred in a residential area in the heart of the city. A government administrator, Sahibzada Yousaf, said authorities were alerted about the blast early Sunday and officers are still investigating. He said some nearby homes were also damaged.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif expressed grief over the loss of lives and offered condolences to the victims’ families, according to a statement from his office. He directed health authorities to ensure the injured receive the best possible treatment and ordered a full investigation.

Many Pakistani households rely on liquefied petroleum gas cylinders because of low natural gas pressure, and such cylinders have been linked to deadly accidents caused by gas leaks. Police said investigations were ongoing.

Government officials survey the damage of a home caused by a gas cylinder explosion hours after a wedding reception, in Islamabad, Pakistan, Sunday, Jan. 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Ehsan Shahzad)