Arne Slot has been hit with a touchline ban and a fine after the Liverpool manager was shown a red card following the Merseyside derby against Everton.
Slot, who is on course to lead Liverpool to the Premier League title in his first season at Anfield, was dismissed after approaching referee Michael Oliver following the 2-2 draw at Goodison Park earlier this month.
A two-match touchline ban means Slot will miss Liverpool’s Premier League matches against Newcastle United on Wednesday night and Southampton on March 8.
Slot will, however, be permitted to be on the touchline for Liverpool’s Champions League last-16 first-leg tie against Paris Saint-Germain in early March.
Slot was also fined £70,000 after accepting the FA charge.
A statement from the FA read: ‘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.’
Liverpool and Everton were fined £65,000 and £50,000 respectively for failing to control their players at the end of a feisty Merseyside derby.
The Reds looked set to win the last-ever derby at Goodison Park after Alexis Mac Allister and Mohamed Salah cancelled out Beto’s early opener.
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But James Tarkowski thumped home a dramatic equaliser with the last kick of the game to earn Everton a point and deny Liverpool bragging rights.
The visitors felt Everton’s late goal should have been disallowed for a foul in the build-up but referee Olivier confirmed it would stand after a lengthy VAR check.
Several Liverpool players and Slot approached Olivier to complain and the Reds boss – who arrived at Anfield last summer to replace Jurgen Klopp – was sent off.
Midfielders Curtis Jones and Abdoulaye Doucoure were also sent off after clashing on the side of the pitch during Everton’s celebrations.
In his first press conference following the red card, Slot admitted his emotions got the better of him and promised to behave ‘differently’ in future.
‘What happened was that, during the stoppage time, there was a lot that happened and the emotions got the better of me,’ he said.
‘I would have loved to do it differently if I could go back. I hope to do it differently the next time as well.
‘I should have acted differently but it’s an emotional sport. Sometimes emotional people make the wrong decision and that’s what I did.’
Liverpool also dropped points against Aston Villa last week but still find themselves 11 points clear of second-placed Arsenal going into their midweek fixture.
That is because Arsenal suffered a shock defeat at home to West Ham at the weekend before Liverpool beat Man City at the Etihad Stadium.
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