Why Liverpool press conference cancelled after Arne Slot sent off in Merseyside derby chaos | OneFootball

Reds boss unable to address the media after wild Goodison Park scenes thanks to little-known Premier League rule

Liverpool did not conduct a post-match press conference following Wednesday’s chaotic Merseyside derby clash with Everton after manager Arne Slot and assistant Sipke Hulshoff were both sent off after the full-time whistle.

The seething Reds boss and his senior No2 were each shown straight red cards in quick succession by referee Michael Oliver during wild scenes that followed the last-ever meeting between the two rivals at Goodison Park, which ended in a pulsating 2-2 draw after Mohamed Salah’s late goal was cancelled out by an emphatic last-gasp equaliser from James Tarkowski that led to some home fans spilling onto the pitch.

An ugly melee between the midfielders led to a major flashpoint involving both sets of players, with police and stewards intervening to attempt to restore order as a plastic bottle also appeared to be thrown from the stands.

Jones and Doucoure had each been booked during the game and were both shown second yellow and then red cards by Oliver, who then dished out straight reds to both Slot and his assistant Hulshoff for their protests.

Liverpool had been left furious by the failure to rule out Tarkowski’s goal despite a lengthy VAR check that seemed to be mostly focused on a possible offside call. The Reds actually felt it should have been chalked off for a challenge by Everton striker Beto on defender Ibrahima Konate inside the box.

The post-match dismissals of Slot and Hulshoff meant there was no Liverpool presence in the post-match press conferences at Goodison, with current Premier League rules preventing them from taking part.

As per ESPN, a stricter approach was imposed at the start of the 2023/24 top-flight season stating that managers who are shown red cards are then banned from taking part in any post-match news conferences or broadcast interviews, with Slot also not talking to TNT Sports or the BBC as he usually would.

Ordinarily Liverpool would presumably have sent Hulshoff in his place, but that was not possible due to his own red card.

Both men now look set to serve one-match touchline bans on Sunday when Wolves visit Anfield in the Premier League. That would seem likely to leave assistant coach - and former Everton defender - John Heitinga as the senior man in the dugout at the weekend.

Jones will also be banned against Wolves, while Doucoure will be absent when resurgent Everton travel to Crystal Palace on Saturday, along with in-form forward Iliman Ndiaye, the latest addition to their lengthy injury list after limping off in tears in the first half against Liverpool.