Arne Slot, manager of Liverpool, shakes hands with referee Michael Oliver
Image credit: Getty Images
Liverpool head coach Arne Slot and assistant Sipke Hulshoff were both shown red cards by Oliver, along with Liverpool’s Curtis Jones and Everton’s Abdoulaye Doucoure.
Slot was shown a red card immediately after an angry-looking handshake with Oliver.
Slot was unable to give his side of the story as, following the red card, he was barred from taking part in the post-match press conference or speaking to TNT Sports.
With games coming thick and fast for title-chasing Liverpool, we explore the fallout after the red card chaos, including how many games Slot will miss and why was he unable to speak to the media following the match.
Slot to miss TWO GAMES
Slot’s red card will see him handed a two-match touchline ban.
That means he will not be in the dugout for Liverpool’s home Premier League match against Wolverhampton Wanderers on Sunday, February 16, and trip to Aston Villa on February 19.
The Premier League website states: “Liverpool head coach Arne Slot was dismissed at the end of the Merseyside derby for using offensive, insulting, or abusive language.
“He is handed a two-match touchline ban as a result.”
Slot’s assistant Hulshoff is also facing a ban, meaning assistant coach John Heitinga is set to be the leading voice in the dugout against Wolves and potentially against Villa too.
Will Slot be at the stadium against Wolves?
Slot will be allowed at Anfield and Villa Park to watch Liverpool’s next two fixtures.
However, he will only be able to view the games from the director’s box and will not be permitted in the dugout or allowed to communicate directly with players during the games – but he can speak to staff through a phone or other mobile communication.
He is also able to talk to the team in the dressing room before the games, at half-time, and after the full-time whistle.
This is the second time Slot has been banned this season. He was also forced to watch from the stands for the Carabao Cup quarter-final against Southampton in December after receiving a third yellow card of the campaign in the 2-2 draw against Fulham.
Speaking at the time, he said the Premier League rules regarding manager bans are “lighter” than in the Netherlands, where he previously managed.
“If you are suspended in Holland, then you are not allowed to be in and around the dressing room, you cannot do the media as well.
“So, this is a lighter version of suspension I would say that I’m used to, but I’ve never been used to being suspended, so it’s the first time I am.
“I think I’m still able to do the things I want to do. The moment you have less impact on your team is during the 45 minutes.
“And the most impact you can have is at half-time or before the game – and those are the things I can do.”
Why was Slot barred from press conference?
Slot was not able to speak to the media following his red card due to Premier League rules.
Introduced in 2023 as part of a charter to “promote responsible behaviour from players and coaches at matches”, the rule states: “Occupants of the technical area who have been dismissed are not allowed to take a seat in the stand, return to the field of play post-match, or conduct any post-match media.”
Jones, Doucoure also facing bans
Curtis Jones and Abdoulaye Doucoure are set to be banned this weekend.
The pair clashed after the final whistle as Doucoure celebrated Everton’s dramatic late draw in front of the Liverpool supporters.
Jones will be suspended for Liverpool’s match against Wolves and Doucoure will miss Everton’s trip to Crystal Palace.
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