Liverpool dealt blow just hours before Newcastle United clash at Anfield
Liverpool boss Arne Slot will serve a two-match touchline ban, starting against Newcastle United tonight.
Slot and assistant coach Sipke Hulshoff were shown a red card by Michael Oliver after confronting the Newcastle-born official following Everton’s late equaliser in the Merseyside derby at Goodison Park earlier this month.
It was alleged that both ‘acted in an improper manner and/or used insulting and/or abusive words and/or behaviour’ towards a match official. Slot has been handed a £70,000 fine and Hulshoff hit with a £7,000 payment.
Additionally, the pair will not be in the dugout for the visit of Newcastle this evening and next weekend’s clash against bottom-of-the-table Southampton. Instead, Johnny Heitinga will take charge of the Reds, with Slot and Hulshoff back in time for the Carabao Cup final on March 16.
FA release statement just hours before Liverpool v Newcastle United
An FA statement, released on the morning of Liverpool’s meeting with the Magpies, read: “An independent Regulatory Commission has sanctioned Everton, Liverpool, Arne Slot and Sipke Hulshoff in relation to the Premier League fixture between the clubs on Wednesday 12 February.
“It was alleged that both clubs failed to ensure their players and/or technical area occupants did not behave in an improper and/or provocative way following the final whistle. Everton and Liverpool admitted the charges, and the Regulatory Commission imposed £65,000 and £50,000 fines on them respectively following a hearing.
“It was alleged that the Liverpool head coach acted in an improper manner and/or used insulting and/or abusive words and/or behaviour towards both the match referee and an assistant referee after the match had finished. Arne Slot admitted the charge, and the Regulatory Commission imposed a two-match touchline suspension and £70,000 fine.
“It was alleged that the Liverpool assistant head coach acted in an improper manner and/or used insulting and/or abusive words and/or behaviour towards a match official, which led to his dismissal. It was further alleged that he acted in an improper manner and/or used insulting and/or abusive words and/or behaviour towards a match official after being sent off. Sipke Hulshoff admitted the charge, and the Regulatory Commission imposed a two-match touchline suspension and £7,000 fine.
“The Regulatory Commission’s written reasons for these sanctions will be published in due course.”
Newcastle United hope to take advantage
Newcastle will hope to take advantage of Slot’s touchline absence as they look to secure their first victory at Anfield since 1995.
“I think we need close to a perfect game from our perspective,” said United head coach Eddie Howe. “Certainly, I think learning from the recent game against Manchester City would be a useful starting point for us where we didn't execute the aggressive game plan that we wanted.
“We didn't attack enough. For me, we didn't attack the game well enough, so we need to learn from that. At Anfield, which is a really great environment to play football, but not a great environment if you're not totally there. So we have to acknowledge that and make sure that we turn up.”