Why Arne Slot is banned for Carabao Cup tonight at Southampton as Liverpool handed manager loophole

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Liverpool boss Arne Slot will serve a touchline ban in the Carabao Cup this evening after benefiting from a unique manager loophole.

The Dutchman will be in the stands for the Reds’ quarter-final trip to managerless Southampton, live on talkSPORT, due to suspension.

Slot picked up his third yellow card during Liverpool‘s 2-2 draw with Fulham in the Premier League on Saturday.

That is the threshold for an automatic ban for top-flight managers, with players permitted two more cautions before being punished.

Crystal Palace defender Daniel Munoz was among those who have hit that mark, but unlike Slot, he is available for Carabao Cup duty.

Why is Slot banned against Southampton?

The 46-year-old will serve his one-match touchline ban in the Carabao Cup due to a unique ruling outlining manager suspensions.

As per FA guidelines, player red cards carry across all domestic competitions and are instantly served in the next available match.

Bans handed out by an accumulation of yellow cards are restricted to the Premier League, which is why Munoz can play the Carabao Cup match against Arsenal but not the top-fight encounter a few days later.

However, this does not apply to managers, where suspensions do carry across different FA competitions regardless of the type of ban.

A similar scenario has already taken place this season, ironically with Liverpool’s opponents Southampton and their now-ex-manager Russell Martin.

The recently sacked Saints boss missed their win over Stoke City in the round of 16 after picking up his third Premier League booking.

Andy Robertson will also miss Liverpool’s trip to St Mary’s after being sent off against Fulham but can return this weekend.

In Slot’s absence, his assistant Sipke Hulshoff will likely be the man to take charge, with the pair communicating via phone to the dugout.

The former was cautioned in the 57th minute of the 2-2 draw with Fulham after reacting to Curtis Jones‘ being booked for a mistimed challenge on Alex Iwobi.

“There were a few moments when I could have been given a yellow card,” said Slot, who also picked up yellows against Chelsea and Arsenal.

“It’s an emotional game and we were a man down, it’s frustrating. It’s good to see our performance after so many setbacks.

“It’s difficult to judge for me because I only see it in real-time like the referee.

“We have to accept what VAR sees. You know how important these decisions can be. We ended up with a draw and I don’t think we can blame the referee for that.”

What has been said?

Speaking in his pre-match press conference, Slot was asked about having to serve a ban and how it will impact him during the game.

He replied: “Not as much as I thought it should impact me, because if you are suspended in Holland, then you are not allowed to be in and around the dressing room, and you cannot do the media as well.

“So, this is a lighter version of suspension that I would say that I’m used to, but this is my first time being suspended.

“So I think I am still able to do the things I want to do. The least impact you have on your team is during the 45 minutes and the most impact you can have is at half-time and before the game, so those are the things you can do.

“Ideal situation I would have just been on the sideline but I got a yellow vs Fulham which I probably deserved, but yeah, this happens.”

On whether he’s deserved his three yellow cards this season, Slot added: “One of them I didn’t deserve, but I told what I said back then, which OK, that’s a word we don’t use that much over here.

“But that was meant to one of my players, so that one was a misunderstanding, but the one I got against Chelsea was absolutely deserved. I could have got five maybe, so to come out with one, maybe I have to thank the referee for that.”

Southampton vs Liverpool: How to follow

This Carabao Cup quarter-final clash is set to take place on Wednesday, December 18.

Kick-off at St Mary’s is scheduled for 8pm.

talkSPORT 2 will have live coverage from the south coast, with commentary from Jim Proudfoot and former Chelsea defender Scott Minto.

talkSPORT.com will also have updates in our dedicated live blog.

To tune in to talkSPORT through the website, click HERE for the live stream.

You can also listen via the talkSPORT app, on DAB digital radio, through your smart speaker and on 1089 or 1053 AM.