Why Liverpool’s Press Conference Was Cancelled After Merseyside Derby Chaos

Liverpool opted not to hold a post-match press conference following the tumultuous Merseyside derby against Everton on Wednesday.

The decision came after manager Arne Slot and assistant Sipke Hulshoff were both dismissed from the match after the final whistle, adding to the drama of the evening.

The frustrated Liverpool manager and his senior assistant were each issued straight red cards in rapid succession by referee Michael Oliver amid chaotic scenes following the final whistle of the last-ever clash between the two rivals at Goodison Park.

The match concluded in a thrilling 2-2 draw, with Mohamed Salah scoring a late goal that seemed to seal the victory for Liverpool, only for James Tarkowski to net a dramatic equalizer in the dying moments.

The intense finish prompted some home fans to spill onto the pitch in celebration.

A thrilling conclusion to the match was quickly overshadowed by an ugly mass brawl. Curtis Jones and Abdoulaye Doucoure found themselves in a heated altercation after the Liverpool midfielder took offense to his Everton counterpart celebrating Tarkowski’s goal in front of the away fans.

In response, Jones sprinted over to confront him, escalating tensions on 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 players are expected to face one-match touchline bans on Sunday when Wolves come to Anfield for their Premier League clash. This situation will likely elevate assistant coach and former Everton defender John Heitinga to the role of the senior figure in the dugout for the match.

Jones will also miss the match against Wolves, while Doucoure will be unavailable as a revitalized Everton faces Crystal Palace on Saturday.

Additionally, in-form forward Iliman Ndiaye has joined their growing injury list after leaving the pitch in tears during the first half against Liverpool.