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Liverpool boss Arne Slot was banned from conducting his usual post-match interview on Wednesday due to a little-known Premier League rule.
The Dutchman watched on from the dugout as his side let slip their advantage deep into added time in a pulsating 2-2 Merseyside derby draw at Everton.
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Liverpool came from behind in the final derby at Goodison Park thanks to goals from Alexis Mac Allister and Mohamed Salah, cancelling out Beto’s 11th-minute opener for the Toffees.
But it was James Tarkowski’s thunderous 98th-minute equaliser that appeared to anger the Liverpool boss.
The goal was awarded after lengthy VAR checks for a possible foul in the build-up and an offside.
Slot was left infuriated on the touchline and subsequently let referee Michael Oliver know about it.
After the final whistle, Slot approached Oliver, exchanging words with the official before sharing an angry handshake.
However, Oliver did not take kindly to it and immediately brandished the Liverpool boss a red card.
Slot was unable to vent his anger in his usual post-match interview due to a little-known Premier League rule.
The ruling states that any player, coach or manager who has been sent off cannot conduct post-match interviews with the media.
Incredibly, Slot's assistant Spike Hulshoff was also shown a red card in the melee for remonstrating with Oliver over the decision to award Tarkowski’s goal, meaning he was unable to assume media duties.
That led to Reds skipper Virgil van Dijk carrying out all media obligations on behalf of the club.
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Slot and Hulshoff will now watch this weekend’s clash with Wolves from the Anfield stands as a result of their dismissals.
However, Slot is permitted to conduct pre-match and half time team talks to his players. He can also communicate to his assistants on the bench during the match and fulfil post-match media duties.
Slot’s indiscretion wasn’t the only flashpoint at full time with Everton’s Abdoulaye Doucoure and Liverpool’s Curtis Jones squaring up after an incident in front of the away fans.
Both players were sent off in the disturbance that saw almost every outfield player as well as police and stewards intervene to calm the tensions.
Following a tense end to the match, Van Dijk vented his frustrations by aiming a dig at their Merseyside rivals.
“This is their cup final,” said the Reds skipper. “We saw it last year, and this year it's a big blow. Doucoure wanted to provoke our fans. Curtis didn't think that was the right thing to do. I think the referee didn't have the game in control; I said that to him.
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"It was a very big provocation from one certain player. We all saw it and reacted as a team as we were able to do.
"You know what happens nowadays, it becomes one big tussle. Then it is not me who has to deal with it, it is the referee and today I am not sure he had it fully under control.”
