After Liverpool’s 2-2 draw with Everton in a thrilling Merseyside derby, the final to leave Goodison Park, Arne Slot was perplexed by Michael Oliver’s choice to dismiss him.
In a contentious conclusion to an exciting derby tie on Wednesday night, the Dutchman was one of four players sent out after the final whistle. Beto gave the home team the lead in the eleventh minute, and Alexis Mac Allister equalised in the sixteenth. When Mohamed Salah tucked home from close range and made sure the home team was chasing a late equaliser, it appeared as though the Reds had won all three points.
James Tarkowski’s thunderbolt in the 90+8th minute, the most recent goal in a Merseyside derby, gave them the goal in the most dramatic of circumstances. Slot was furious on the touchline after his team believed Ibrahima Konate had been fouled in the build-up to the goal, but a protracted VAR review did not alter Michael Oliver’s judgement. It was euphoria for Everton and anguish for Liverpool.
Arne Slot Perplexed With Michael Oliver’s Red Card Post-Merseyside Derby
Tempers flared inside Goodison Park
After Tarkowski’s goal found the back of the net, the normally cool-headed Slot became enraged, and the VAR decision declared the goal to be valid. After the derby at Goodison Park, he was seen yelling at the fourth official about the ruling, and his rage persisted.
Abdoulaye Doucoure had already incited the away section to celebrate, which led to a confrontation between the two sets of players. Curtis Jones charged directly at the Malian midfielder, and before a brawl broke out, the two nearly collided. For the ordeal, the two players were given second yellows and then red cards.
Slot, who was clearly still upset about the equaliser being given, strode over to shake hands with Oliver, but it was interpreted as a violent gesture. The 46-year-old was not pleased when the referee showed the Dutchman red:
“You gave me a red for that?!”
Sipke Hulshoff, Slot’s assistant coach, was also fired. As a result, both players will miss Liverpool’s match against Wolverhampton Wanderers at Anfield on Sunday, February 16, and Slot may have been given a second game suspension for his actions. Oliver ‘didn’t have the game under control,’ according to his captain, Virgil van Dijk, who shared his reaction to the refereeing performance.
After 24 games, the Reds are still seven points ahead of second-place Arsenal in the Premier League. Their most recent trip to Goodison Park ended in a draw following a shocking 1-0 loss to Plymouth Argyle of the EFL Championship in the FA Cup fourth round.
Lip Reader Reveals What Was Slot Said Amid Potential Two-Game Ban
The Premier League deleted claim over Liverpool boss serving two-match suspension
The Premier League first posted a statement on their X account explaining that Oliver’s decision to fire the Dutchman was due to his use of [offensive, insulting, or abusive language] and that he was ‘handed a two-match touchline ban as a result’. Slot will not be on the touchline for Liverpool’s match against Wolves this weekend, although there are rumours that he will be suspended for the Reds’ away trip to Aston Villa next Wednesday (February 19).
Another angle of Arne Slot's red card tonight…
What did he say to Michael Oliver 🤝 pic.twitter.com/qzR376WKUw
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) February 12, 2025
That post has since been removed, but this opinion is based on Slot’s verbal abuse of the officials, including Oliver. According to Jeremy Freeman, he yelled at the assistant referee, “That’s not a push? It’s a f**king disgrace… if you go and watch that again.” Slot then turned to the other linesman and said, “Well done.” During the contentious handshake during the post-match chaos, he told Oliver, “Great game.”
