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Amazon Prime apologizes to Slot for implying he went into referee's office

  /  autty

Amazon Prime has apologised to Arne Slot after their host Dan Walker suggested that the Liverpool manager had gone into referee Andy Madley's dressing room at half-time in his side's 3-3 draw at Newcastle.

The Reds fell behind twice, first courtesy of a thumping effort from Alexander Isak and then a sharp turn and finish from Anthony Gordon, with Curtis Jones equalising briefly just after half-time.

Mohamed Salah then provided yet another reminder of his importance to Liverpool, with his future at Anfield still up in the air, scoring two goals to put Slot's men on the brink of another victory.

But Magpies centre-back Fabian Schar provided a late sting in the tail, sliding in at the far post to prod home an equaliser in the last minute after Reds goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher misjudged the flight of the ball.

Slot was left frustrated at half-time with his side a goal down and three men having been booked, and Walker implied after the match that the Dutchman had darted into Madley's office at the break to have a word.

Now Amazon Prime has issued an apology to the Liverpool head coach after it emerged that he had done no such thing and had, instead, had a conversation with the official in the tunnel, the Times reports.

This was described as the 'normal way' and the broadcaster blamed the mistake on a production misunderstanding, before contacting Slot personally.

The Dutch boss accepted the apology and the club reportedly consider the matter to be closed.

After the match, Newcastle manager Eddie Howe was asked about Slot's alleged actions and decided not to wade into the saga.

He said: 'I don't think I'll go there. I think that's a can of worms. I tend to focus on my team.'

Managers are permitted to speak with referees half an hour after a match has ended but officials can allow them to discuss matters before that time at their own discretion, as long as they are behaving in a balanced manner.

After the game, Slot discussed Salah's outstanding performance as speculation mounts as to his next destination, with the Egyptian's contract up in the summer.

He said: 'It is difficult for me to predict the future but the only thing I can expect or predict is that he is in a very good place, in a very good team that provides him with opportunities.

'And what makes him even more special is you thought in the first hour he was not playing his best game and then he comes up with assist, two goals, shot on the bar. His finish is so clinical… special player.

'When I came in I noticed from the start, he led from example, so many of his teammates were not there and to be able to train so hard and we all saw the quality. It is not a surprising thing he does well.'

Salah overtook Erling Haaland in the race for the Golden Boot on 13 league goals and Slot added: 'Every time we need him he is there. We hope and expect him to continue doing this for a long time.

'It was an outstanding performance from him, even apart from his goals. There were many more special things.'

Meanwhile, Eddie Howe was satisfied with a point despite his team twice leading and playing well enough to win.

The Newcastle boss said: '(I have) mixed emotions, part of me feels we should have won it, a big part of me — and part of me is pleased we didn't lose.'