Liverpool manager Arne Slot was handed a two-match suspension following the chaotic Merseyside derby with Everton earlier this month, while both clubs have been fined, the Football Association said on Wednesday.

Slot was shown a red card after the final whistle and admitted to the charge of acting in an improper manner and using insulting or abusive words or behaviour towards the referee and an assistant referee.

The manager also received a 70,000 pounds ($88,522.00) fine, while his assistant coach Sipke Hulshoff, also sent off after the final whistle, has also received a two-match suspension and a 7,000 pound fine.

Everton were fined 65,000 pounds and Liverpool 50,000 pounds after both clubs admitted to charges of failing to ensure their players did not behave improperly or provocatively after the final whistle.

Liverpool substitute Curtis Jones and Everton midfielder Abdoulaye Doucoure were also shown red cards after the game, and the final whistle sparked a scuffle between both sets of players.

Everton’s James Tarkowski equalised late in stoppage time, sparking wild celebrations and Jones took umbrage at Doucoure celebrating in front of the visiting fans after a 2-2 draw in the final derby at Goodison Park on February 12.

Premier League leaders Liverpool host Newcastle United later on Wednesday while Everton are at Brentford.

-Reuters

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Everton’s new stadium at Bramley-Moore Dock welcomed 10,000 fans for a test event featuring an under-18 friendly match against Wigan Athletic. The Premier League club is preparing to say goodbye to Goodison Park at the end of this season.

“Whoever’s designed it has done a fantastic job because the stands are on top of you,” Everton under-18 coach Keith Southern told Everton TV.

“When this is full next season, it’s going to be a hell of a place to play.”

Wigan’s Harrison Rimmer became the first to score at the Everton Stadium in the 12th minute. Everton lost 2-1 with Ray Robert scoring for the hosts.

Goodison Park, Everton’s home since 1892, hosted its final derby on Wednesday as David Moyes’s side held leaders Liverpool to a 2-2 draw. The stadium’s last competitive game will take place on May 18 when Everton host Southampton.

The stadium will then be demolished with the land set to be redeveloped into a mixed-use scheme with housing and offices.

Construction of the new 52,888-seater arena took four years and cost close to 800 million pounds ($1.01 billion), according to British media reports, and is also set to host matches at Euro 2028.

-Reuters

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Fulham put a dent in Nottingham Forest’s Premier League top-four aspirations as defender Calvin Bassey’s first goal of the season sealed a deserved 2-1 home win for the London club on Saturday.

Bassey’s only other Fulham goal came almost a year ago but the Nigeria international produced a well-directed header in the 62nd minute to leave Forest empty-handed despite Chris Wood scoring his 18th league goal of the season for the visitors.

Emile Smith Rowe headed in Adama Traore’s cross to give Fulham an early lead at Craven Cottage but striker Wood levelled before halftime with a clinical finish.

Forest were unable to make much of an impression after Bassey’s goal and a lively Fulham side could have added to their lead on several occasions.

While Forest remained in third place with 47 points from 25 games, Fulham are firmly in the hunt for European qualification, sitting in eighth spot with 39 points.

Nuno Espirito Santo’s Forest side could have no real complaints at the outcome as they managed only two attempts on target at a murky Craven Cottage.

The hosts began in positive fashion and nearly went in front when Raul Jimenez’s looping header went just wide of the post.

But Fulham did not have to wait long for their reward as Traore delivered a superb inswinging cross with his left foot and Smith Rowe timed his run to perfection to power his header past Forest keeper Matz Sels.

Sels had to make a great save to deny Jimenez as the hosts dominated but Wood equalised with the type of goal that has made him one of the surprises of the season.

He got a little lucky as a flighted pass from Morgan Gibbs-White struck him on the back to wrong-foot Fulham’s defence.

But he took full advantage, producing a silky turn before planting a left-foot shot beyond Bernd Leno.

It was a similar pattern after the break with Fulham’s power and pace disrupting Forest and the hosts scored the winner as Jimenez flicked on a cross to the back post where Bassey produced a header any striker would have been proud of.

-Reuters

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