Following Liverpool’s dramatic 3-2 loss to Brighton in the penultimate round of the Premier League season, manager Arne Slot has fiercely defended his team against claims of foul play, while the head of refereeing has made a stunning admission about the match’s officiating.
The newly-crowned champions took an early lead through Harvey Elliott, before Dominik Szoboszlai added a second before halftime. But Brighton showed grit and resilience, turning the game around with second-half goals from Kaoru Mitoma and Jack Hinshelwood — handing Liverpool their second consecutive away defeat.
Despite Liverpool already securing the title, controversy erupted post-match when online rumors accused the Reds of “intentionally underperforming” and manipulating the outcome to favor Brighton’s push for European qualification.
Responding to the accusations, Arne Slot said: “The idea that we would cheat the game or disrespect the competition is completely absurd. We play every match to win, regardless of what the table says. Anyone who questions the integrity of this squad clearly doesn’t understand the values we stand for at Liverpool.”
In a shocking twist, Premier League Referees’ Chief David Elleray confirmed in a post-match briefing that there were officiating errors that impacted the game — but not in Liverpool’s favor. “There were two missed fouls in the build-up to Brighton’s second goal, including a clear obstruction on Alisson. These incidents should have been reviewed more closely,” Elleray admitted. “While it doesn’t change the result, it’s something we’ve acknowledged internally and will address with our officials.”
The stunning revelations have only intensified the debate surrounding the match, which saw Liverpool dominate early before faltering under pressure. Slot, however, maintained that officiating inconsistencies were part of the game and refused to use them as an excuse: “You win some, you lose some. Brighton were brave, and we respect their performance. But our focus remains on finishing the season strong.”
Brighton’s victory propelled them to eighth in the standings, reigniting their European hopes. Meanwhile, Liverpool may have lost on the night, but they remain proud record-setters — having scored in every away match this Premier League season for the first time in the club’s history.
