Paul Merson and Mike Dean clash live on Sky Sports

 Sky Sports pundit Paul Merson and former referee Mike Dean have clashed over whether referee Michael Oliver was right to send off Liverpool head coach Arne Slot during the Merseyside derby.

"It's the heat of the moment," Merson said on Sky Sports' Soccer Saturday. "It's the last night game at Goodison. It was a big, big football match and he got involved in it.

"I thought the ref could have had a bit more class about him. He could have easily not have sent [Slot] off. Have a bit of common sense. He couldn't wait to get [the red card] out. I don't care what's been said."



"He would have said something to Michael and you don't know what's been said," Dean replied. "The players and managers have to take responsibility for what they say and do. You can't just ignore it."

"The only thing you can get sent off for there, for me, is if he went over and said 'You're a cheat'," Merson continued. "That's the only reason. If he has said that, he should get a 10-game ban."

In a heated debate, Merson appeared to suggest that Slot should have been let off by the referee because Ibrahima Konate might have been fouled, which caused his anger and frustration. Dean contested that, though did admit he would have given a foul on the Reds defender just before James Tarkowski hammered home an equalizer.

"I think what happened was that the extra time, the additional five minutes that ended up being eight, a lot happened and the emotions got the better of me," Slot said during his press conference on Friday.



If I look back at it, I would love to do it differently. I'm hoping to do [it] differently next time as well. What exactly has been said or what has happened, I just told you there is an ongoing process and I don't want to disturb that."

Slot will be on the touchline for Liverpool vs Wolves tomorrow but he has been charged, alongside his assistant, Sipke Hulshoff. The pair could face a touchline ban once the FA has gone through the due process and decided any potential punishment.


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