Liverpool head coach Arne Slot is awaiting potential disciplinary action after receiving a red card in Wednesday's heated Merseyside derby, which ended in a dramatic 2-2 draw at Goodison Park.
The 46-year-old Dutch manager was dismissed after approaching referee Michael Oliver on the pitch following the final whistle. The incident was part of a chaotic conclusion that also saw Everton's Abdoulaye Doucoure and Liverpool's Curtis Jones sent off after the match had ended.
"Emotions got the better of me," Slot admitted on Friday. "If I could do that differently, if I look back I would love to do that differently, and I hope to do that differently next time." He acknowledged an ongoing disciplinary process, stating he must "respect that."
While the Premier League initially reported on its website that Slot would face a two-match ban for using offensive language, this post was later removed due to human error. As it stands, Slot is expected to be on the touchline for Sunday's Premier League match against Wolves at Anfield.
The Liverpool manager expressed frustration over several aspects of the match, including James Tarkowski's controversial late equalizer in the 98th minute, which Liverpool believed should have been disallowed for a push on defender Ibrahima Konate. Slot also questioned the extended stoppage time, noting, "I think what happened was that the extra five minutes ended up being eight. It happened a lot."
The derby's tensions extended beyond the coaching staff, as Curtis Jones received a second yellow card for confronting Doucoure, who was celebrating the result in front of Liverpool supporters. Slot addressed Jones's reaction: "I like a lot that he stands up for the team, but there are also other ways for the team and fans to do that."
Everton manager David Moyes expressed sympathy for his Liverpool counterpart, drawing from his own experience: "It was an emotional night for everybody. I feel a bit for Arne Slot because this is the thing, when I was a younger manager, I was always getting involved in heated things. It shows he cares about his club and he's fighting for his players."
In a disturbing postscript to the match, Merseyside Police have opened an investigation into racist abuse targeted at Doucoure on social media. Moyes addressed the situation, stating, "He's fine. I was disappointed that he got himself sent off. The club will look at the situation here as we go along." He emphasized, "It still doesn't mean that people can abuse you and if they have then it's completely wrong."
Liverpool currently maintain a seven-point lead over Arsenal at the top of the Premier League, with 14 games remaining in what is Slot's first season in charge of the Reds. Meanwhile, Everton, under Moyes's guidance since January, have moved 10 points clear of the relegation zone, with the Liverpool draw following three consecutive league victories.
