Liverpool lost more than just the two points when Everton netted its controversial late equalizer in the Merseyside derby. Curtis Jones and Arne Slot were both shown red in the scenes that followed, which could yet have a knock-on effect — although the manager's fate is yet to be decided, and .
Player suspensions follow a rigid set of rules; , for instance, will serve a one-match ban, having been dismissed for a second bookable offense in the aftermath of the goal. However, there are no automatic suspensions for coaches, with an FA charge now set to determine the sanction awaiting .
That charge will need to come by Monday at the latest, by which time . The Reds would then in turn have three business days to submit a response, with the FA handed a further three days to reply — likely meaning that Slot will also be on the touchline against Aston Villa.
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But is the process little more than a stay of execution for Slot ahead of an inevitable ban? Not necessarily.
In practice, there is a good chance that Slot will indeed face a touchline ban. He's already missed one game this season after racking up three yellow cards, which could factor into the FA's thinking.
But much hinges on the contents of match report. Slot was immediately dismissed after appearing to say something to the referee following the final whistle, so his account will shed some light on the severity of the incident.
It may be that an independent commission does not consider it worthy of a suspension, and that a fine would suffice. This was the sanction issued to back in 2022, after he too saw red in an intense encounter with Manchester City.
On that occasion, Anthony Taylor sent off the Liverpool boss for his remonstrations with assistant referee Gary Beswick. Klopp accepted an FA charge of improper conduct, and the independent Regulatory Commission concluded following a hearing that a fine of £30,000 (roughly $37,500) was adequate punishment.
Neither Klopp nor the FA chose to appeal that decision. Much the same process now awaits Slot, and he would surely accept a similar outcome.
Oliver never truly appeared to have control of the derby, making a . Liverpool will feel that the first red card should have been shown more than an hour earlier, when Idrissa Gueye hauled down while already on a yellow card.
But the challenge for the Reds now is to put the setback behind them and get the title push back on track, building from what remains a position of strength. That process will be made easier if Slot can follow Klopp in avoiding a ban.
