Liverpool manager Arne Slot stated that football must increase its efforts to combat racism. This comes after Real Madrid forward Vinicius Jr. alleged he was subjected to racist abuse by Benfica winger Gianluca Prestianni during a Champions League playoff match.
UEFA is currently reviewing the incident, which led to an 11-minute halt in play under FIFA's anti-racism protocol. Slot emphasized the need for the football community to take more decisive action than society at large, commending the immediate protocol response in the game.
Looking ahead to Liverpool's Premier League match against Nottingham Forest, Slot anticipates a different tactical approach from the newly appointed manager, Vitor Pereira. He noted that Forest's recent Europa League fixture under Pereira would offer insight into potential changes.
On team news, Slot confirmed Jeremie Frimpong remains unavailable, while Joe Gomez is fit to start if required. The manager also highlighted his team's significant improvement over the past few months, citing enhanced fitness and set-piece performance as key factors in Liverpool's current standing.