Arne Slot could be facing an extended touchline ban following his red card at Goodison Park, with the Football Association considering potential charges after the fiery Merseyside derby. The Liverpool head coach was one of four individuals dismissed by referee Michael Oliver in the aftermath of Wednesday’s 2-2 draw against Everton. Unlike Curtis Jones and Abdoulaye Doucouré, who received automatic suspensions, Slot and his assistant Sipke Hulshoff are not immediately sidelined and are expected to be on the bench for Liverpool’s upcoming fixture against Wolves at Anfield on Sunday.
Slot’s protests towards Oliver after full-time have drawn scrutiny, and the FA is awaiting the referee’s match report before determining whether to charge him with misconduct. The governing body has until Monday night to make a decision. If charged, Slot could face either a standard punishment or a more severe non-standard charge, which would result in a disciplinary hearing. Given that he has already served a touchline ban earlier this season missing the Southampton match in December after accumulating three yellow cards there is a possibility of a more significant suspension, potentially lasting two games or more.
A disciplinary hearing, should it be required, would likely take two to three weeks to complete. This timeline suggests Slot would still be available for Liverpool’s upcoming Premier League matches against Wolves, Aston Villa, Manchester City, and Newcastle before any suspension takes effect.
The FA is also reviewing several other incidents from what was the final Merseyside derby to be played at Goodison Park. Both clubs may face charges for failing to control their players after tempers flared in the closing moments. Tensions erupted when Curtis Jones reacted angrily to Doucouré celebrating in front of Liverpool’s traveling supporters. The altercation led to a melee between players, with bottles being thrown from the away section and Everton fans invading the pitch following James Tarkowski’s dramatic 98th-minute equalizer.
Beyond the disciplinary concerns, Liverpool has also suffered a fresh injury blow, with Joe Gomez facing another prolonged spell on the sidelines due to a hamstring issue. The defender had just returned from a six-week layoff to start in Sunday’s FA Cup clash at Plymouth but lasted only ten minutes before breaking down again. The injury has affected the same hamstring, and further tests will determine its severity. Surgery remains a possibility, which could rule Gomez out until the final weeks of the season.
As Liverpool navigates these challenges on and off the pitch, the team will look to maintain their momentum while awaiting clarity on Slot’s fate and the repercussions of Wednesday night’s chaotic derby.
