Liverpool attacker Mohamed Salah will not be banned for his side’s next two Premier League games after the Football Association decided against punishing him over the incident which led to his penalty against Newcastle at Anfield. The Egypt forward, 26, went down after minimal contact from Magpies defender Paul Dummett.
Salah converted from the spot in a 4-0 win, a result which put the Premier League leaders six points clear. As there was contact between the players, it did not meet the FA’s threshold for a disciplinary charge. Salah could have faced a two-match ban, which would have seen him miss key league games against Arsenal and Manchester City. A rule was introduced for the 2017-18 season designed to punish players for simulation that leads to a penalty or an opponent being sent off.
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City could be without Fabian Delph for their next two games after the England international was sent off in the closing stages of the defeat to Leicester. Delph whacked the ball away before Ricardo Pereira could get a tackle in but his follow through caught the forward and Mike Dean opted for a red card.
Unless that is overturned, the Blues will be without their two best options at left-back with £50m man Benjamin Mendy still injured. Danilo returned from injury on Wednesday and could fill in there, while Aleks Zinchenko could also feature but neither are ideal options.