Former referee Keith Hackett believes points deduction sanctions could come into force if managers and players are guilty of confronting officials on the pitch more often.

The issue of managers confronting referees on the field of play reared its head after Liverpool boss Arne Slot was sent off at the end of the Merseyside Derby with Everton. The Reds boss had just seen his side concede a 98th minute goal to draw 2-2 in the final ever derby at Goodison Park.

James Tarkowski's equaliser came after only five minutes were added on at the end of the match and Slot made his feelings clear to referee Michael Oliver with a few words and a vigorous handshake. Slot was shown a red card, as was assistant Sipke Hulshoff, with both men receiving a two-game touchline ban too.

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The match ended with Abdoulaye Doucoure and Curtis Jones also seeing red for a fracas after the final whistle. It was an unsavoury end to the match and has led to Hackett suggesting heftier punishments.

Speaking to Football Insider, he said: "I would like to see referees at the final whistle moving towards the tunnel rather than standing in the middle looking for handshakes and any complimentary comments.

"This will, I feel, reduce any tensions that have built up in the game. I hope that the level of fines will receive a more controlled approach by the manager and his assistant.

"If these fines going forward do not have the desired effect then we may see points deductions coming into play. The last time they used that sanction for an on-field mass confrontation was in the game between Manchester United vs Arsenal (in the 1990s) where I was the man in the middle."

Arsenal were slapped with a two-point deduction after that game, while Manchester United were hit with a one-point penalty. And it got us to thinking about what could have happened this season had that same rule applied.

Here football.london takes a look at the big moments in the title race that caused controversy and confrontation.

Manchester City vs Arsenal - September 22

Arsenal's players were incensed with the red card shown to Leandro Trossard before half-time in the 2-2 draw with Man City in September. Trossard had fouled Bernardo Silva and then booted the ball away seconds after referee Michael Oliver blew his whistle, leading to a second yellow card.

It was the second time in a matter of weeks that Arsenal had been reduced to 10 men for kicking the ball away. Photographs show six Arsenal players surrounding Oliver after the red card is shown and there is more after the match ends with Arteta amongst his players and City players on the pitch around the referee as tensions boil over.

Should Arsenal have received a points deduction sanction for this? An International Football Board Association directive at the start of the season stated that 'Only the captain can approach the referee'.

The IFAB ruling stated: "To prevent players mobbing or surrounding the referee in major situations and following key incidents or decisions only one player from each team – usually the captain – is allowed to approach the referee and, when doing so, they must always interact in a respectful manner."

Wolves vs Arsenal - January 25

This one was hugely contentious and the decision of Michael Oliver to send Myles Lewis-Skelly off was overturned on appeal. But that does not detract from what happened on the pitch and off it afterwards.

Eight Arsenal players can be seen surrounding the referee in the aftermath of the decision, with Declan Rice shouting in the referee's face.

After the match, Arteta went on to shake hands with the referee and did not appear to say anything, but did stop as he went to walk off and stared at Oliver as if he had heard the official say something to him as he was walking off.

Again this could have led to a points deduction under Hackett's proposed plans.

Everton vs Liverpool - February 12

The game that ended with four red cards after the final whistle - two for players and two for backroom staff. It was the final Merseyside Derby at Goodison Park to end all derbies.

Slot and Hulshoff had words with the referee - again Michael Oliver - after the game and were both sent off. The same for Doucoure and Jones for their fracas at the end.

Players and management from Liverpool got in the referee's face and perhaps could have had a points deduction as a result too.

Conclusion

Going by Hackett's proposals, Arsenal would then have had two points deducted this season, with Liverpool being deducted just one.

That would leave the Gunners even further off the top of the Premier League table in the title race. It would be a sure-fire way to stop players and managers surround officials on the pitch though.