'The Sunderland manager...': Arne Slot reacts to red-card drama and major Liverpool suspension blow

Liverpool have been handed a major blow ahead of their trip to Sunderland on Wednesday night after Dominik Szoboszlai was shown a red card in a dramatic ending to their game against Manchester City.

Szoboszlai had given his side the lead in the second half with a stunning free kick, but Bernardo Silva equalised for Manchester City who then took the lead in stoppage time through an Erling Haaland penalty. The drama was far from over, with the visitors adding that they thought was a third goal from a late break as Rayan Cherki rolled one over the line with Alisson high up the pitch. However, a VAR check rule that Szoboszlai had committed a foul on Haaland by holding him back as he chased the ball, with the striker then doing the same.

The goal was ruled out after a VAR check and Szoboszlai was shown a red card, with the full time whistle blowing shortly afterwards.

A statement from the Premier League match centre said: "After VAR review, the referee overturned the original decision of goal to Manchester City.

"Referee announcement: “After review, there is a careless foul by Erling Haaland, that pulls the shirt of Dominic Szoboszlai. Prior to that, Szoboszlai commits a holding offence that denies an obvious goal scoring opportunity. The final decision is a direct free kick to Manchester City and a red card.”

Liverpool boss Arne Slot said he understoood the referee had followed the rules in making his decision, but insisted Marc Guehi should have been sent off earlier in the half.

"I can live with the fact, although I don't like it, that the referee follows the rulebook and Dominik makes a foul on Haaland in that last situation, which is a clear shirt-pull and he was through to goal so he would have scored," Slot said.

"So that's a red card. And I think the Sunderland manager is really happy that he gives the red card. So that's the rulebook and you follow the rulebook. And if you follow the rulebook and you have a clear shirt-pull from [Marc] Guehi on Mo Salah, who for eight years is scoring that ball every single time - 100 out of 100 times he scores that goal, a bit exaggerated - and that is not a red card, then there is more of my frustration.

"But I can live with the red card for Dom. If you like football you say, 'Ah, leave it as it is, it's a goal, it's good for them, it's good for everyone.' But if you are the Sunderland manager you prefer to see a red card. That's the rule and follow the rules is all we ask."

Szoboszlai's suspension likely leaves Slot without a senior right back for the game, as the midfielder had been filling in for Jeremie Frimpong in that position.

Calvin Ramsay is an inexperienced option for Slot in the position, or midfielders Wataru Endo or Curtis Jones could fill in. Slot did not entirely rule defender Joe Gomez out of the game.

"Jeremie for sure [will not be back],” said the Reds boss.

“We knew that when he got injured, it was a few weeks.

“To be honest, I don’t expect Joe back for Wednesday, but you never know. Then he is back from being out for three weeks, would you play him now? I have to make that decision. Let’s see what decision we make. We have other players that can play that position as well."

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The Sunderland injury news for Liverpool clash

Régis Le Bris confirmed after the defeat at Arsenal that Granit Xhaka will be again missing on Wednesday night, though he hopes that Noah Sadiki will be fit after his second-half substitution. Bertrand Traoré is currently sidelined with a knee injury.

"We don't know yet for Granit," Le Bris said.

"Probably two or three weeks. We'll see according to his feeling and just wait a bit. With Noah, I think he'll be OK. He struggled a bit with a bit of discomfort."

Your next Sunderland read: The Sunderland dressing room verdict on Arsenal defeat and what was said afterwards