Wolves will travel to Merseyside later this week in preparation for an important league game against Liverpool.
The Old Gold come into Sunday’s match at Anfield in good form. Vitor Pereira’s men have won their last two matches, including an impressive win against Aston Villa in the Midlands Derby.
Despite being top of the table, Liverpool are in a bit of a rut, though.
Not only did the Reds crash out of the FA Cup at the Fourth Round stage at the hands of Championship strugglers Plymouth Argyle last weekend, but they also dropped points against Everton in Wednesday night’s Merseyside Derby.
It was James Tarkowski’s brilliant last gasp equaliser that led to things boiling over at Goodison Park. Arne Slot was in the middle of the chaos, and that could have a direct effect on his presence for this weekend’s game against Wolves.
Arne Slot facing possible touchline ban following Everton antics
Furious with some of the decisions made during Wednesday’s match at Goodison Park, Slot exchanged some heated words with referee Michael Oliver.
Going beyond expressing his disappointment, the Liverpool boss took his frustrations out on Olivier and may have crossed the line. Although it was originally reported that Slot had received a two-game ban for ‘offensive, insulting or abusive language’, the Premier League later retracted that statement.
Instead, Olivier’s upcoming match report is now expected to determine the Liverpool manager’s potential punishment. Despite initial reports, as things stand, the Dutchman will be allowed on the touchline for Sunday’s game against Wolves.
Curtis Jones is suspended against Wolves, though. The Liverpool midfielder clashed with Abdoulaye Doucoure after the full-time whistle and received a straight red card.
Possible advantage Vitor Pereira
Although the Wolves manager never shies away from going head-to-head with his managerial counterparts, the 56-year-old will be pleased Slot could be demoted to the stands for Sunday’s game.
Pereira has spoken highly of Slot, but with Wolves in direct competition with Leicester City and Ipswich Town for what looks to be just one safety spot, any little advantage he can get, he will take.
Liverpool, on the other hand, will be furious if they won’t have their manager available on the touchline to oversee Sunday’s proceedings. Should this be the case, assistant manager Sipke Hulshoff is likely to take Slot’s place in the technical area.
This potential development might make Ian Wright want to rethink his Liverpool vs Wolves prediction, which saw the former Arsenal man suggest the away team will fail to find the back of the Reds’ net.