Credit: Imago / Sky Sports

Dan Godfrey

Tue 4 March 2025 15:21, UK

Liverpool manager Arne Slot is still serving his two-match ban for comments made to Michael Oliver after the draw with Everton.

The dramatic clash at Goodison Park in what was the final Merseyside derby to be played at the Old Lady served up a heated battle, which culminated in four red cards at the final whistle.

Everton midfielder Abdoulaye Doucoure provoked the Liverpool fans and was dismissed at full-time, with Curtis Jones then sent off for his reaction; Slot and assistant Sipke Hulshoff then saw red cards brandished their way after consulting with Oliver.

Liverpool boss allegedly constantly swore in rant at Oliver

The FA revealed on Tuesday (4 March) that Slot allegedly swore at Oliver after the draw at Everton and that the Liverpool manager would “blame” the referee if his side were not to win the Premier League title this season.

The Dutchman argues that while he did admit to a sarcastic title-winning jibe aimed at Oliver, it was not delivered with expletives or aggression.

Slot was also fined £70,000 as well as his two-game Premier League ban, the second Liverpool match of which he will serve this Saturday (8 March) at Anfield against Southampton.

The next Premier League game which will reintroduce Slot to the touchline will ironically be the reverse derby between the two sides on 2 April, again at Anfield.

The FA stated: “It was alleged that [Slot’s] manner was confrontational and aggressive. It was alleged that he initially used abusive words whilst shaking [Oliver’s] hand including that the referee had ‘[expletive] give them everything’ and that Slot hoped that the referee ‘was proud of that performance’.

“The referee thereafter confirms (having reviewed the video footage to clarify) that he was approached again by Slot around one minute later. In this exchange, Slot once again shook the referee’s hand and said ‘If we don’t win the league, I’ll [expletive] blame you’. It is then further alleged that Slot turned to the assistant referee and shouted twice that it was an ‘[expletive] disgrace’.

“Instead, Slot asserts that he in fact said, ‘if we don’t win the league, I will have you to thank for that’.”

Everton reunite with Liverpool next month

If the last derby at Goodison was anything to go by, the second derby of the season between Everton and Liverpool is one for which fans will count down the days.

The Toffees have been superb under David Moyes and are now unbeaten in seven, with last month’s dynamic draw in L4 in among the impressive run of results.

Doucoure, Jones, Slot and Hulshoff should all be back together with some of the needle expected to stay present between the two sides at Anfield.

In the meantime, Everton have two more Premier League fixtures before the international break, which then leads into the derby: Wolves at Molineux this Saturday (8 March), before West Ham United at Goodison (15 March) in the first of just five remaining games until the doors are locked.