Liverpool head coach Arne Slot has been hit with a two-match touchline ban following his red card during a heated conclusion to the Merseyside derby, which ended in a dramatic 2-2 draw with Everton.
Liverpool appeared set to extend their lead at the top of the Premier League to nine points on Wednesday until Everton’s James Tarkowski unleashed a superb volley in the eighth minute of stoppage time to snatch a point for the hosts.
The late equalizer sparked wild celebrations from Abdoulaye Doucoure in front of Liverpool’s traveling supporters, leading to a confrontation with Curtis Jones.
Both players were subsequently shown red cards by referee Michael Oliver.
Chaos erupted as some fans invaded the pitch, prompting intervention from stewards and police.
In the aftermath, Slot and his assistant Sipke Hulshoff were also dismissed.
“Liverpool head coach Arne Slot was dismissed at the end of the Merseyside derby for using offensive, insulting, or abusive language,” read a statement from the Premier League. “He is handed a two-match touchline ban as a result.”
Slot will miss Liverpool’s upcoming home game against struggling Wolves on Sunday and their February 19 trip to Aston Villa. Meanwhile, Doucoure and Jones will serve one-match bans.
The tense draw, marking the final Merseyside derby at Goodison Park before Everton’s move to a new stadium, leaves Liverpool seven points clear of second-placed Arsenal with 14 games left in the season.
