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<p style="display: none;">Article continues below</p><script type="application/json" data-placement="footballco-bet-betsense">{"type":"footballco-bet-betsense","data":{}}</script><p style="display: none;">Article continues below</p><p style="display: none;">Article continues below</p><script type="application/json" data-placement="fcplayer-semantic">{"type":"fcplayer-semantic","data":{"embedCode":"//cdn.fcp.codes/embed-code-template/embed-code-template.js#SEMANTIC_d6e1e5da-7d9a-43d5-97e1-f4350a3cd7e3"}}</script><ul><li>Slot defended Robertson</li><li>Was sent off in the 17th minute</li><li>Liverpool held to a 2-2 draw by Fulham</li></ul><table><tbody><tr><td><a href="https://www.whatsapp.com/channel/0029Va2ivxLJJhzdzbJdwo0n"><strong>Follow GOAL on WhatsApp!</strong></a> 🟢📱</td></tr></tbody></table>

Arne Slot defends Andy Robertson after Liverpool star is sent off after just 17 minutes of Reds' draw with Fulham

Premier League

Liverpool

Leicester

Fulham

Bournemouth

<p>The Scottish left-back <a href="https://www.goal.com/en/lists/absolutely-braindead-andy-robertson-savaged-by-liverpool-fans-early-red-card-fulham/bltbae216862025a813#cs6a068ef6ede281b8" target="_blank">received a lot of criticism from Liverpool fans</a> after he picked up a red card in the 17th of the match against Fulham on Saturday at Anfield. Robertson tried to intercept a long ball from Andreas Pereira for Harry Wilson. He did succeed at first but a poor first touch almost allowed Wilson to regain possession, however, the Reds star caught the winger on his knee with a nasty challenge which led to his sending off.</p>

WHAT HAPPENED?

<p>Going down to 10 men early in the game had a big impact on the result as the <a href="https://www.goal.com/en/lists/liverpool-player-ratings-vs-fulham-diogo-jota-andy-robertson-trent-alexander-arnold/blt490ca5d2d7d062b8" target="_blank">Reds were held to a 2-2 draw</a>. Unlike the fans, Slot defended Robertson and claimed that the defender, along with the entire team, showed a lot of character to pick up a point from the fixture.</p>

THE BIGGER PICTURE

<p>Speaking to reporters in his post-match press conference, the Dutch coach said: "I think what the team showed today, the character they showed, that's also what Robbo showed. Sometimes if you get a kick like this, two studs on a knee, that can hurt for a few minutes. Then, if you just keep on running, it gets better and better and that's what we were hoping for. </p><p>"Not least because I only had one defender on the bench, who was not a left full-back as well. So, we were hoping he was managing to come through it and I think he did quite well, but the moment I noticed he wasn't completely himself was the one time they put the ball in behind and he started running."</p><p>He added: "He was just able to head it back to Ali [Alisson Becker], but I thought, 'OK, let's see how this continues' and I think it was quite quickly afterwards where he conceded the red card. Nothing to blame on him, [it was] character that he wanted to continue because he got quite a hard knock on his knee with two studs. Unfortunately, it led to a red card that was a deserved red card."</p>

WHAT ARNE SLOT SAID

<p>The Merseyside club will be next seen in action on Wednesday as they take on Southampton in a Carabao Cup quarter-final clash away from home.</p>

WHAT NEXT FOR LIVERPOOL?

Arne Slot defends Andy Robertson after Liverpool star is sent off after just 17 minutes of Reds' draw with Fulham | Goal.com US

Liverpool boss Arne Slot came to Andy Robertson&apos;s defence after the full-back picked an early red card against Fulham.

Arne Slot defends Andy Robertson after Liverpool star is sent off after just 17 minutes of Reds&apos; draw with Fulham