Slot extended ban!? | Hodgkinson out of race! | Havertz ruled out!
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Welcome to Back Pages, bringing you everything you need to know about the biggest sports stories, making the headlines in the morning's newspapers. I'm Mark McQuillan and joining me are Miguel Delaney from The Independent and Jonathan Liu from The Guardian. Hi and welcome to you both.

Right, let's talk to our guests and start with The Sun and Arne Slott, their headline. It's just barmy Arnie. Jonathan, let's start with you on this. I mean, quite an interesting sequence of lines here in The Sun saying there's maybe been a bit of a mix up as far as Arne Slott is concerned and what might happen with him in terms of this potential touchline ban.

Yeah. So the, uh, premier league put a statement out on its website this morning. I think it was up for about an hour saying that he, he'd receive a two game ban. Uh, and then that statement was then taken down, which is obviously, it's not a great look. I think when there is such, there's, there's clearly going to be such scrutiny. Uh, there's, there's the, the premier league's decision-making is going to be scrutinized to such a high degree to have that kind of error. I think it's, it's just, it's probably, it's not acceptable really for, for an organization of that nature. Um,

And then, you know, we are kind of in the dark as to whether the FA are going to deem this like a standard charge, which I guess...

It attracts basically a statutory ban or whether they then take it forward, whether they describe this non-standard and decide on a kind of a bespoke sanction, taking into account, I guess, the fact that slot has already served a touchline ban already this season. So I think in terms of what the offence actually was, I don't think precedent or parallels are going to be too helpful here until we actually have a clear idea what slot said. It does appear to be.

what he said to Michael Oliver rather than any kind of handshake or gesture that appears to be what's got him in trouble. Until we know the ins and outs of that, it's kind of pointless speculating on what sort of ban that might be. Miguel, you've been doing a little bit of digging on this story, I understand. Where do you think we are at with it at the moment? Should Liverpool fans be encouraged or a bit worried?

I mean, look, from all the noises so far, it does feel like a two-game ban is inevitable. The one thing is a potential review could go on for some time. And that's going to be all the more interesting because there's Johnny's reference there just to see what was actually said because that is what will come out in these sort of reviews. I mean, it's interesting with slot because...

He's... One of the stories of Liverpool's season has actually been how no matter the controversy, no matter the kind of energy or something, he's very good at kind of taking the sting out of it, keeping composed and then ensuring the team gets on with its business. Obviously, in this case, they lost to last-minute equaliser and it was a rare moment where...

not quite letting his guard down, but I suppose got involved. Now, I was watching some of the footage, which makes it all the more conspicuous because I was trying to see what was said, what he did. And it's interesting that he doesn't seem to say much before Oliver pulls out the card to the shock of...

of Virgil van Dijk so it's even hard for us to take the moment where he even got too animated in contrast to the slot we see in the media there is an edge to him every top manager needs an edge but that review is going to be very indicative I mean look it could come out tomorrow I think which would mean if he's found guilty he potentially misses the Wolves game but I think the likelihood is right now that at least rumbles into next week and he potentially says he's not on the bench for the City game

Jonathan, this story also features on the back of the mirror, your brawl in trouble is the headline there. Can you give us a sense of what kind of impact it would have on Liverpool at this crucial stage of the season? Seven points clear, but they dropped two points in the Merseyside derby. If they were to be without Arna slot for a couple of games on the touchline?

Yeah, I mean, I think in terms of what Liverpool would probably argue is the fact that they have enough senior players in the dressing room. They have enough expertise in there. And the fact that obviously it doesn't impact the work that slot's going to do in the lead up to the game. So I think it's two hours before kickoff and two hours after the game where he's not allowed to be on the touchline or in the dugout. He can still give his team talk, for example, at halftime before the game. It's a touchline ban. So yeah,

I suspect the impact probably won't be as big as a lot of people might like to imagine. But it will actually, I mean, it will be a test of whether those senior players, it's not so much, you know, the actual impact that he has. It's the kind of the break-in routine. You are used to having this face, this voice alongside you on the touchline, whether that break-in routine, whether that's something that they can adapt to. So ironically, I guess the biggest test of whether Slott's methods of, you know,

Slott's methods have been coached and drilled into his players is going to come when he's actually absent. We'll hear more from Arnaud Slott on this very soon. Miguel, it's going to be interesting to get his take on it. What was your assessment of those scenes at Goodison Park in and around the full-time whistle? Old-fashioned, I suppose. I mean, to that it was almost, you know, the kind of protocol in these cases is usually to kind of condemn what went on and all the rest of it, but I

I think it was almost a fittingly abrasive derby for... Sorry, a fittingly abrasive match and follow-on for the last derby at Goodison Park. Given the perception of the ground, given the history of the ground, given the kind of rough-and-ready image it's gotten now at this point in its history, yeah, it all added to the colour of the occasion. And it did seem like that, despite the result for Liverpool, say...

Both fans even kind of relished the scenes. But I think as regards what's next, I think what's most interesting here, as Johnny said, it's not so much about missing slot. It's about the routine and whether it internalises messages. But it's also, I suppose, it's the first time this season that there's been any sort of, say, noise around Liverpool in that sense, maybe a break in kind of emotional momentum. And so the closest parallel I can actually think of is, say, when...

When Arsenal got knocked out of the Champions League and FA Cup in very quick succession in the Invincible season, it was suddenly a test. They actually went to Liverpool for a big game then that they won. Similarly, say, in 1993-94, Man Utd were cruising to the title and then had Cantona sent off in two games, won against Swindon Town. It's kind of almost comparable to that and it's a team that's been...

cruising at a fairly good steady level and now suddenly for the first time it's just a bit of disruption that they have to get through but I mean still the gap to second is healthy and of course it might mean more if Arsenal didn't have their own issues

Jonathan, I think you were shaking your head a little bit there during what Miguel was saying. I just wonder if you want to come in and add to what Miguel was talking about there. We're supposed to condemn this. We're supposed to go, ugly scenes, ban this sick filth. But no, we love it. This is one of the reasons we love football. Last minute winners, aggro, baiting and brawling and brawling.

as long as nobody gets seriously hurt, I think it's all good, clean fun. You see it as passion. We want passion in football, that is for sure. Let's move on, but equally tie things in with the title race a little bit more. Arsenal might have been a little bit encouraged by

by Liverpool dropping those two points at Everton, but they certainly won't be encouraged by the news coming out of their training camp in Dubai with Kai Havertz's injury out for the season and it leaves Arsenal with the uncomfortable truth, says the headline there. Miguel, put into context for us how big a setback this is for Arsenal.

Well, look, I mean, it comes down to the numbers, really. Arsenal didn't sign a forward in January. They've now got their entire first choice front three out, all of them with hamstring injuries or some form of hamstring injuries. And they've now only got three available forwards or notional forwards.

the maths on that don't look good especially when they're in a situation where to haul in Liverpool Arsenal basically need to be perfect from now on in and that's actually what happened last season after they went to one of their Dubai camps they went on this incredible unbeaten run sorry long unbeaten run and

that is questionable now just because the forward is going to be asked to do so much but of course the other side was they needed Liverpool to slip now it might have made yesterday all the more frustrating even if it did give them some solace that Liverpool did slip but there's now all these questions about whether Arsenal can seize the opportunity in the same way but I think the biggest thing like I mean obviously Arteta has a lot to figure out now you know there's talk of potentially playing Marino up front the 4-5-1 all these different options that he can come up with but I

But I think there's two reasons this is particularly interesting and I suppose concerning from the sense of the bigger picture. First of all, the very fact that it's three hamstring injuries. I mean, in football, they would point to hamstring injuries and quad injuries as signs of players being overworked or playing too many games or maybe training's too excessive.

That should and will invite some of the questions for Arteta that say, Ange Postacoglu and Eric Ten Hag and other managers are faced in an injury crisis. But then, of course, there's a bigger issue, which is how the players are used and what has been the most intense calendar ever. So I think there are bigger themes out of this. But for the moment, of course, it's about how Arsenal adapts. And suddenly, the team sheet that we get on Saturday morning ahead of the Leicester game is going to be pretty telling.

Jonathan, do you think Arsenal have the solutions to this Havertz injury blow? I think they're going to be sticking plaster solutions for a few weeks, certainly until... Well, Martinelli might be back in about a month. There's some talk that Saka might be back in March, but the Sun obviously saying that that won't be until April. And I think until...

until those players come back, it is going to be pretty much a make-do-and-mend kind of front three. You have Sterling, Juan Airey. Trossard probably plays false nine or he probably plays in the central role. That's a role he's done before. But I kind of echo what Miguel says about the nature of Arsenal's striker crisis. It's something that has been

quite a few months in coming. You know, you see that their summer business where they, they prioritize signing, uh, we have bolstering and defense and midfield, and then they only bring in Sterling and right at the end of the window, which I think is an indication of where their priorities are. You know, I'll test it. Is it, is it, is it good enough coach to, to adapt? I think, you know, I,

And ironically, this kind of adversity might actually bring out the best in him. He is going to have to find tactical solutions to this. But I think until Arsenal get those get those players back, it is going to be one of those one of those periods where they're just going to have to kind of battle it out.

Miguel, I just want to come to you this as well, because on the side of the Suns' back page, cropped Saka out until April is the headline. So, Bakaya's Saka could be out for a little longer than initially feared. This will reignite the debate, will it not, over whether Arsenal should have taken some decisive action in January over a striker?

Yeah, I mean, look, I mean, with Saka say it's one of those situations, even before this news came out that it could be till April. I mean, there's even the question, say, if he was back for March, how much do you actually use him? Because although he is essential potentially to a title race, I mean, he is one of the team's three best players, say, players after this sort of injury do have to be almost kind of managed back in.

And then you can get yourself into the same sort of problem if you rush a player or play him too much just when they're coming back, especially with the games so intense at this point. So that was already an issue in itself. As regards recruitment, I mean, say I wrote at the end of the window, one of the reasons that Arsenal didn't sign was ultimately they didn't want any business now to affect finances as regards signings in the summer. And that's fair enough.

they would have maybe done the right sort of loan deal say but like I mean I wrote that Alvaro Morata was raised as an option they were interested but didn't quite follow through with the interest that Galatasaray did because there were some questions over whether Morata could press in the same way than Havertz but

He might be able to do that especially at this point of his career But it's still better than having no option there and that's the thing and now just seems so obvious that are that Arsenal needed some sort of body But that was apparently one of things they didn't want to do you get a body for the sake of it But of course it was really about having the options there and now look yeah, it's they suddenly have to Really max out three players for at least a month Miguel

We're going to go back to you and The Times. Controversial PSR is staying, one of their headlines there, the Premier League's controversial PSR will remain in place next season after a delay. So it's staying, Miguel, but for now, is that right?

Yeah, I mean, there have been a plan to replace it with squad cost ratio, which is basically the total cost of it speaks for itself. The cost of your squad has to be at a certain level or percentage of what your income is. Not too far removed from PSR, but a bit more flexibility, especially given that there has been so much criticism of how stringent PSR is.

The only thing about that is there's been a lot of criticism from certain clubs. There's all sorts of talk about how it inhibits clubs and favours kind of maybe the wealthiest clubs

And yet, A, the clubs keep voting for it or are ultimately in favour of some sort of financial control because they realise its importance and the alternative is much worse. And also, I think there's a very fair argument that PSO has had a very productive effect this season for the democracy of the Premier League. You only have to look at the table right now and you only have to look at the market. So say, for example, Newcastle United, who have been one of the clubs considered most influential

against PSO. Well, I mean, it has directly stopped clubs like Manchester United or Manchester City going for Bruno Guimaraes or Arsenal going for Alexander Isaac because they can't spend in that way. Now, for the moment, it had been anticipated that they might bring in squad cost ratio for next season, but two reasons ultimately stopped them. One was the ongoing legal action from Manchester City over APT rules in this form of the rules.

And then there was also, because some of the squad cost ratio is going to be built on the idea of anchoring, where the wealthiest clubs can only spend a figure that's linked to how much the least wealthy bring in, which I think, to be honest, is quite a progressive rule. But that would be open, actually, to legal challenge.

which says a lot about where we are in football, but potential legal challenge from clubs and also players' unions because of what it might mean for salaries. And amid that uncertainty, the clubs basically just decided to stick with PSO for another year. But then there's a...

What's interesting here is, say a UEFA level, they have squad cost ratio and PSR. One is only meant to complement the other. So, again, as I said, it does sum up a lot of where the Premier League is now, or football is now, that we're constantly talking about these financial regulations and such acronyms. Jonathan, it's going to be interesting to see what happens on this front over the next couple of years. Do you feel at the moment we have a more balanced Premier League because the financial rule's in place?

Yeah, I mean, as Miguel said, I think that certainly the short-term effect has been to, I think, to democratise, to even out, I think, a lot of the inequalities in the Premier League. I think over the longer term, and I think, you know, me and Miguel are kind of aligned on this, this is coming way too late. You know, football has allowed massive wealth inequalities to grow between its richest and its poorest clubs. That's happened over the last couple of decades. And...

Any regulation you bring in right now is almost, you can see why clubs like Manchester City and Newcastle and fans of those clubs are upset at these regulations being brought in now, which is basically two decades after billionaire money and huge sums of capital came in and started distorting the game. So in many ways, we are trying to post-regulate a game that was kind of a free-for-all during the moment. And a lot of those inequalities are now baked in

Jonathan, I want to stay with you and go to the Telegraph from Keeley Hodgkinson out of her own event over the coming days due to injury. It's such a shame for her, isn't it?

Yeah, big shame for her. I know how much she was looking forward to this homecoming event. They've sold a lot of tickets as well. It's named after her, the Keeley Classic. She was going to go for the indoor 800-meter world record as well, which the Czech black world record, I think, stood for about 25 years. Yeah.

it's, it's, it's obviously, you know, a big miss for those, those fans as well who have bought tickets, presumably on, on the strength of wanting to see Keely Hutchinson. Uh, I just think in the broader picture, the fact that, you know, she's got so much, she's got so much on her plate this summer, you know, there's a huge, there's a world athletics championships in Turkey. That's going to be the focus of her season. Uh,

And so I think if there are any kind of niggling injuries now which are preventing her from competing, I think the most important thing to do is to get those ironed out and sorted out, whatever the short-term cost might be to that. Miguel, let's go to you and the eye and talk F1, the headline there.

Norris says Max made me look like an idiot last season. Season's not even got underway in 2025 and already there's some interesting words being exchanged. Lando Norris, the bookie's favourite going into the new season, Miguel, is that right?

look for my own limited knowledge of uh of formula one i'd say maybe it's a little bit hasty i think what's interesting here is how there's already you can see the kind of uh i suppose what really kind of energizes sport now and what's really energized formula one in the past which is the sense of kind of personal rivalry and the idea of people getting into each other's heads and i suppose in as much as you can read into kind of any sort of pre-season event or pre-event press conference uh

some of the comments today were interesting. Norris seemed to contradict himself a few times, which led to, I've seen talk in a few other papers about how it shows the possibility that Verstappen's got into his head.

Of course, I mean, what's really in his head is the idea of actually winning. And I think this is more about maybe Norris. Ultimately, we're talking about someone who's much more comfortable in front of the wheel than being in front of cameras or journalists. So that will explain maybe some of the contradictory nature of some of his comments. But ultimately, you know, a few laps at Silverstone isn't going to tell us much. It's about how the cars perform once the races start.

Jonathan, to your paper, The Guardian, Brendan McCullum has been praised so much for the way he's helped rebrand England's cricket, but he's facing some critics, isn't he, at the moment, following England's tour of India? Yeah, I mean, there's a lot of criticism. I think...

Anyone criticising or expecting McCollum to change track on his training regime or lack of it based on a few results doesn't know a huge amount about training and clearly doesn't know a lot about McCollum. I think there is a big issue with the 50-over team that there wasn't with the test team. The 50-over team has just taken over and

English players don't play that format domestically. It's not just a scaled up version of T20. So there are kind of specific skills that need to be trained. You know, it's not like you can just tell them to go out and play their natural game because they don't...

have a natural game in 50 over cricket. They are kind of like learning on the fly. So there is the need for that kind of bespoke coaching. And you wonder, I know it's probably not the best time to say it, like a couple of weeks before a major tournament, whether McCollum is the guy to get that kind of performance out of them.