OPINION
A major boost for Liverpool, and anger and frustration for Tottenham.
That is what the two-match touchline ban for Mauricio Pochettino means to the two clubs ahead of their Premier League showdown at Anfield on 31 March.
The FA made it official on Wednesday that Pochettino will be forced to sit in the stands for the trip to Liverpool at the end of the month, as well as the match against Southampton this weekend that precedes it, after he aggressively confronted referee Mike Dean at Turf Moor in the aftermath of Spurs’ 2-1 defeat to Burnley.
[1/2] Mauricio Pochettino has been fined £10,000 and will serve a two-match touchline ban following an Independent Regulatory Commission hearing. pic.twitter.com/lrik2KC8te
— FA Spokesperson (@FAspokesperson) March 6, 2019
According to the Daily Telegraph, the north Londoners “have been left stunned” at the severity of the punishment and what they claim is double standards in comparison to the governing body’s treatment of Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp.
Klopp has twice escaped a touchline ban this season, although he was fined – £8,000 and £45,000 respectively – for running on the pitch following Divock Origi’s goal against Everton in December and then accusing referee Kevin Friend of bias following Liverpool’s 1-1 draw at West Ham United.
On one level, Spurs’ anger is understandable, but Pochettino’s conduct was beyond the pale at the end of the Turf Moor clash.
The way in which he tore strips off Dean in front of the cameras means the FA had to carpet him, as he was clearly trying to demean a match official with misconduct on a different level to either of Klopp’s misdemeanours.
Whatever your view, Pochettino’s absence from the touchline will be a blow to Spurs at Anfield, even though he will be allowed to communicate with his coaching staff via telephone or messenger and can deliver pre-match and half-time speeches in the dressing room.
Pochettino demonstrated with his shifts of Christian Eriksen and Son Heung-Min in the first-half at Dortmund on Tuesday that his in-game management and tactical nous can give Spurs an edge in marquee fixtures.
Elite football is all about marginal gains and the Argentine’s dugout absence at the end of the month is a subtle but significant boost for Liverpool.