Liverpool have been slapped with a £37,500 fine by the FA for surrounding the referee during their 4-1 thrashing by Manchester City earlier this month.
The incident happened in the first half at the Etihad Stadium when the score was at 1-1. Liverpool players crowded around referee Simon Hooper to call for a second yellow card for City midfielder Rodri.
Rodri had just been booked and committed another foul by pulling back Cody Gakpo as he attempted to launch a counter-attack. Hooper decided to keep his cards in his pocket – and Liverpool have now been punished for trying to influence the referee.
An FA statement read: “Liverpool FC has been fined £37,500 after its players surrounded the match official during the 34th minute of their Premier League game against Manchester City on Saturday April 1 2023.
“The club admitted failing to ensure that its players conducted themselves in an orderly fashion and do not behave in any way that is improper. An independent Regulatory Commission imposed Liverpool’s fine following a subsequent hearing.”
The fine takes Liverpool’s total this season to £92,500, having previously been fined £25,000 for an incident in the Merseyside derby against Everton in February. Jurgen Klopp was also hit with a £30,000 fine and a one-game touchline ban back in November after screaming in the face of the fourth official.
The FA has dished out over £1.3million of fines for poor behaviour this season as they try to clamp down on abuse against officials. Liverpool’s total of fines still trails some of their Premier League rivals.
Manchester United are the most fined club this season, having racked up £202,000 in financial penalties, while Arsenal (£185,000) and Everton (£115,000) are also ahead of Liverpool.
The FA announced on Thursday that they had decided to take no action against linesman Constantine Hatzidakis after he elbowed Liverpool defender Andy Robertson last weekend. Hatzidakis had been suspended by the refereeing body PGMOL pending an investigation after the incident with the defender at half-time of the dramatic 2-2 draw with Arsenal.
The FA said: “We have thoroughly reviewed all of the evidence in relation to the recent incident at Anfield involving the Liverpool defender Andrew Robertson and match official Constantine Hatzidakis, and we will be taking no further action.
“Our comprehensive process involved reviewing detailed statements from Liverpool and the PGMOL, as well as multiple angles of video footage, in relation to both the incident and its surrounding circumstances.”
Hatzidakis added: “I fully assisted The FA with their investigation and have discussed the matter directly with Andy Robertson during an open and positive conversation. It was certainly not my intention to make any contact with Andy as I pulled my arm away from him and for that I have apologised. I look forward to returning to officiating matches.”
‘Few problems’ – fresh Liverpool pair suffer injury issues ahead of Leeds United clash
Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp has confirmed Luis Diaz is in contention to face Leeds United on Monday but revealed there a doubts over two key players ahead of the trip to Elland Road.
Diaz has missed the majority of the season after suffering a knee injury against Arsenal in October.
He had looked like returning after the winter break for the World Cup in Qatar but suffered a setback in his recovery.
“He is now 100 per cent ready in training,” said Klopp.
Liverpool have been cautious with Diaz’s fitness to ensure he doesn’t break down again after sustaining a recurrence of his problem during a warm weather training camp in December.
But the Colombia international, who has scored 10 goals in 38 games since arriving from Porto for a fee that could reach £50 million in January 2022, has been back involved in full sessions with his team-mates this week.
Now a place on the bench against relegation-threatened Leeds at Elland Road looks likely.
Speaking at his pre-match press conference, Klopp said: “Yeah he’s 100% ready in training. We’ll have to reintegrate him and he’s in the squad.
“He’s developed massively. His English is better, he’s really settled and really matured again. Much more comfortable than he was in the beginning in a new country and we’re really happy to have him back.
“I said at the beginning that he cannot training without a smile and he’s still the same. He’s been out for a long time. He didn’t lose his skills, that’s good, but step-by-step we have to see.”
However, Klopp has admitted that Ibrahima Konate and Alisson Becker both were absent from training earlier this week.
Defender Konate is set to return to training today while goalkeeper Alisson – who has been ever-present in the Premier League – will train individually.
The Reds boss added: “Couple of problems this week. Ibou couldn’t train for two days but should be back today. Ali wasn’t involved but will train today individually. We’ve had a few problems, hopefully don’t get more. I think we have 5-6 players not in the squad (because of a positive injury situation). They’re all training well and there are no easy decisions who stays at home. That’s tough for the boys but really good for us.”