Many observers have been left wondering exactly where Liverpool head coach Arne Slot is tonight as his side take on Southampton.
The Reds are facing the south coast club at St. Mary’s in the quarter-finals of the EFL Cup. Liverpool are in the midst of an intense run of fixtures - with games coming thick and fast in the Champions League, Premier League and EFL Cup throughout December.
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They are doing so without some key players due to injury with Ibrahima Konate, Conor Bradley and Kostas Tsimikas all sidelined. Furthermore, Andy Robertson serves a one-match suspension tonight as he was sent off against Fulham in the league at the weekend.
Liverpool Andy Robertson
© IMAGO - Liverpool Andy Robertson
Arne Slot SUSPENDED
But the Scotland defender is not the only Liverpool personality missing from tonight’s action due to suspension.
Head coach Arne Slot is also missing after picking up his third yellow card of the season over the weekend.
Slot was cautioned by matchday official Tony Harrington at Anfield on Sunday for remonstrating following a booking issued to Curtis Jones.
The England man committed a foul on Alex Iwobi and Slot’s reaction to the referee’s reprimand brought with it a ban.
Arne Slot Slotpocalypse
© IMAGO - Arne Slot Slotpocalypse
Arne Slot accumulates THREE bookings
The Dutchman had previously been booked this season on two occasions in the Premier League. He saw yellow during the league matches against Arsenal and Chelsea earlier this season.
His caution in the Arsenal game was memorable for the fact that Slot claims he was speaking to Konate when he described Arsenal’s diving as a “f***ing joke”.
He will be replaced on the sidelines for the game by assistant Sipke Hulshoff, as well as John Heitinga and Aaron Briggs.
The FA decided in 2018 that managers could be issued bans for accumulating three yellow cards, leading to Slot’s suspension tonight. He will however be able to talk to his team before the game and at half-time, lessening the suspension blow.
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