Explainers

LIVERPOOL welcome Newcastle for a huge Premier League clash TONIGHT!The Reds are flying high at the top of the Prem table, sitting 11 points clear of Arsenal in second.Arne Slot was involved in a firey exchange with the match officials after Liverpool’s 2-2 draw away at Everton earlier this monthCredit: ReutersArne Slot will not want his side to take their foot off the gas despite their hefty advantage.Liverpool will need to be on their A-game this evening against Champions League hopefuls Newcastle.But the Reds will be without their gaffer on the touchline – SunSport details the reason why below.Why is Arne Slot not on the touchline for Liverpool vs Newcastle?Slot will be missing from the touchline for Liverpool’s next two games as a result of being handed a two-game touchline ban plus a £70,000 fine for his actions post-match at the Merseyside derby earlier this month.READ MORE IN FOOTBALLLiverpool were informed of the FA’s decision to ban Slot yesterday (Tuesday), which means he will be absent from the touchline for Newcastle tonight and their following Premier League game on March 8, which is Southampton. Following the full-time whistle of the pulsating 2-2 draw between the two Merseyside clubs, Slot was seen exchanging words with one of the assistant referees before shaking hands with referee Michael Oliver, who showed him a straight red card.The FA deemed Slot acted in “an improper manner and/or used insulting and/or abusive words and/or behaviour towards both the match referee and an assistant referee after the match had finished.”Slot admitted the charge.Most read in FootballThe Dutchman’s assistant, Sipke Hulshoff, was also handed a straight red and a £7,000 fine, so he, too, will miss Liverpool’s next two Premier League fixtures for a similar charge.Former Everton defender Johnny Heitinga is expected to be the man in the dug-out for both games as Liverpool aim to close in on the title.What’s been said?Here’s what Arne Slot had to say on his red card following the Liverpool vs Everton match: ”Emotions got the better of me. If I could do that differently, if I look back I would love to do that differently, and I hope to do that differently next time.”I think what happened was that the extra five minutes ended up being eight. It happened a lot.”I should have acted differently after the game, but it’s an emotional sport and sometimes individuals make wrong decisions and that’s definitely what I did.” More

ALEXANDER ISAK will not play for Newcastle against Liverpool tonight due to an INJURY. With 19 goals in 24 appearances this season, the Newcastle striker has been one of the Premier League’s most imperious players. Isak has been an ever-present for Newcastle this season but will not feature in the crucial clash at AnfieldOnly Mohamed Salah has scored more goals than the Swede in the division.However, Isak, 24, has been pulled out of the Magpies’ team for this evening’s blockbuster match on Merseyside due to a “slight groin problem.”After recovering from a hamstring injury, Eddie Howe selected Callum Wilson to start in his stead. This is the England international’s first start of the Premier League season.LIVERPOOL VS NEWCASTLE LIVE – LATEST UPDATESREAD MORE IN NEWCASTLE UNITEDAgainst the table-toppers, Wilson, who entered the game as a late replacement in Newcastle’s 4-3 victory against Nottingham Forest, will be flanked by Antony Gordon and Jacob Murphy.A short statement on Newcastle’s official X account stated, “Alexander Isak misses out through a slight groin problem this evening,” prior to kickoff. More

MIDWEEK Premier League action sees fans treated to a preview of the Carabao Cup final at Anfield as Newcastle take on Liverpool.Arne Slot’s Reds and Eddie Howe’s Toon are set to clash next month at Wembley. Mo Salah is having arguably his best season in a Liverpool shirtCredit: EPA/ADAM VAUGHANAlexander Isak has helped Newcastle reach a cup final and challenge for the top fourCredit: GettyThe Reds have seen the teams chasing them continuously falling over hurdles and must feel as though they already have one hand on the Premier League title.Arne Slot is close to the title in his first season, extending Liverpool’s Premier League lead to 11 points after his side beat City and Arsenal were beaten by West Ham last weekend.In what could be his final season at Liverpool, Mo Salah is putting on a show for Premier League fans.Dubbed “the Egyptian King,” Salah has scored in EIGHT consecutive Premier League games.Read more FootballHowever, Newcastle are not coming to serenade the king and will be looking to add three crucial points to their Champions League charge.Eddie Howe and the Toon know the value of a victory here is worth more than three points – as a win at Anfield would give them a psychological edge ahead of Wembley next month.How to watch Liverpool vs Newcastle and is there a live stream?ALL of the Premier League games between Tuesday, February 25 and Thursday, February 27 are LIVE in the UK.Liverpool vs Newcastle will be live on TNT Sports 1 on Wednesday, February 26.The game will also be available for stream on Discovery+.Alternatively, follow along with SunSport’s live blog.Liverpool vs Newcastle kick-off timeLiverpool vs Newcastle will kick off at 8:15pm GMTAction from Anfield is available LIVE on TNT Sports 1 or for streaming on Discovery+Most read in Football More

MANCHESTER UNITED host struggling Ipswich at Old Trafford as they desperately seek an upturn in form.Ruben Amorim has endured a torrid start to his Red Devils career, steering the club closer to the Championship than the Champions League.Manchester United are in the midst of a terrible Premier League seasonCredit: GettyKieran McKenna spent time on the books as a coach at Man UnitedCredit: GettyFor a man who has beaten Pep Guardiola TWICE with two separate teams this season, Amorim seems surprisingly devoid of ideas. The reverse fixture was Amorim’s first in charge of United, and for a moment, it looked as though he would turn things around at Old Trafford.Marcus Rashford scored early, but it all unravelled, with Omari Hutchinson levelling and United failing to do anything of note in the Premier League since.According to reports, Ipswich manager Kieran McKenna was in the running for a number of top jobs last summer, including United.Read more FootballMAN UTD VS IPSWICH LIVE – LATEST UPDATESMcKenna, a former coach at United, will be hoping to haunt his old side as he tries to guide Ipswich out of the relegation zone.His side are in need of a huge upturn in form if they are to stay in the Premier League.Ipswich have claimed just two points since the turn of the year and are five points from saftey.Most read in FootballHow to watch Man United vs Ipswich and is there a live stream?ALL of the Premier League games between Tuesday, February 25 and Thursday, February 27 are LIVE in the UK.Man United vs Ipswich will be live on TNT Sports 4.The game will also be available for stream on Discovery+.Alternatively, follow along with SunSport’s live blog.Man United vs Ipswich kick-off timeMan United vs Ipswich will kick off at 7:30pm GMTAction from Old Trafford is available LIVE on TNT Sports 4 or for streaming on Discovery+ More

MANCHESTER CITY travel to Tottenham as they look to move back into the top four in the Premier League.Pep Guardiola will be hoping to put the woes of defeat to his great rivals Liverpool behind him as City travel to the capital.Pep Guardiola was beaten by Premier League leaders Liverpool last weekendCredit: GettyAnge Postecoglou is under pressure as Spurs sit in the bottom halfCredit: GettyThe Citizens are usually there or thereabouts when it comes to Premier League title races, but this season are nowhere to be found.For the quality of Guardiola’s side, they are having an “off season,” but they are still in the hunt for Champions League qualification, only nine points behind Arsenal in second.The Gunners will be hoping their north London rivals Tottenham can do them a favour and halt City from making any further ground on them.While Ange Postecoglou’s promise of delivering a trophy in his second season still bears fruit in the Europa League, their Premier League season has been one to forget.Read more FootballThe Lily Whites are way off where they want to be, closer to West Ham in 16th than Fulham in 10th.However, Spurs weirdly almost always manage to pull off a result against City, with their 4-0 win over Guardiola’s side in November being their only win in eight during that spell. How to watch Tottenham vs Man City and is there a live stream?ALL of the Premier League games between Tuesday, February 25 and Thursday, February 27 are LIVE in the UK.Tottenham vs Man City will be live on TNT Sports 3.The game will also be available for stream on Discovery+.Alternatively, follow along with SunSport’s live blog.Tottenham vs Man City kick-off timeTottenham vs Man City will kick off at 7:30pm GMTAction from the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium is available LIVE on TNT Sports 3 or for streaming on Discovery+Most read in Football More