Arne Slot will watch Liverpool’s next two matches from the stands after being handed a touchline ban for angrily confronting the referee at the end of the ill-tempered Merseyside Derby a fortnight ago.

It means Johnny Heitinga is set to take the team for Wednesday’s clash against Newcastle as assistant manager Sipke Hulshoff is also banned after two counts of alleged misconduct in the same event.

Slot and Hulshoff were charged by the Football Association in the aftermath of the 2-2 draw and alleged of improper conduct and/or use of foul language towards the referee Michael Oliver.

The pair were shown red cards for their protests at the end of the match which saw a brawl break out among players. Players Curtis Jones and Everton’s Abdoulaye Doucoure were sent off for their part in the scrap.

Both Liverpool and Everton were charged for failure to control their players. Premier League leaders Liverpool accepted the charge last week and chose not to argue it, which worked in their favour with the FA when they handed down their punishment.

With neither Slot or Hulshoff permitted to be on the touchline, former Everton defender Heitinga is in line to take the team in their absence.

Slot has already been banned from the dugout in one game this season, away at Southampton in the Carabao Cup. Liverpool won that match and Slot watched from the back of the press box, sitting alongside analyst Roderick van der Ham.

As Slot has already seen one touchline ban this season, the FA viewed his case as a ‘non-standard’ case. A standard case has a set group of sanctions whereas a non-standard incident is at the FA’s discretion to rule over, especially given Liverpool accepted the charge.

Slot has also been fined £70,000 and Hulshoff £7,000. Everton and Liverpool have both been fined £65,000 and £50,000 respectively for failure to control their players.

Source: Daily Mail