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Historic Tweet From Former Everton Player Goes Viral As He Replaces Banned Arne Slot In Liverpool Dugout c445d
Kieran Lynch is a sports writer specialising in football and Formula One. He is a sports journalism graduate of Leeds Trinity University and completed a Press Association NCTJ course in Newcastle. He previously worked as a news reporter for the Eastern Daily Press in Norfolk and spent five years as a sports writer at the MailOnline.
Get to know Kieran Lynch betterPublished26 Feb 2025
An old tweet from former Everton player John Heitinga has gone viral as he prepares to fill in as Arne Slot’s replacement for Liverpool’s next two games.
Former Netherlands international Heitinga made 115 appearances for Everton between 2009 and 2014.
Heitinga returned to Merseyside on the red-half ofArne Slot’s coaching staff.
Slot and assistant Sipke Hulshoff will miss the next two fixtures against Newcastle and Southampton after they were handed two-match touchline bans.
Johnny Heitinga is set to take the team tonight against Newcastle. pic.twitter.com/9JeS5ZvvoJ
— Anfield Edition (@AnfieldEdition) February 26, 2025
They were charged by the Football Association in the aftermath of the 2-2 draw with Everton. This was for ‘alleged improper conduct and/or use of foul language’ towards referee Michael Oliver.
Heitinga is next in the chain of command at Liverpool meaning he will be be Arne Slot’s replacement against Newcastle and Southampton.
Ahead of Wednesday’s game with Newcastle, a tweet has gone viral that might not sit well with Liverpool fans.
Liverpool Coach’s Everton Tweet Goes Viral 5l1x5t
A social media post from Liverpool coach John Heitinga has gone viral, before he fills in as Arne Slot’s replacement against Newcastle on Wednesday night.
Back in 2019, Everton wished Heitinga a happy 36th birthday with a video on Twitter – now X.
The 41-year-old replied at the time: “Once a Blue, always a blue.”
That post suggests he will always cheer Everton over Liverpool. However, Heitinga perhaps wouldn’t have expected at the time that he would work for Liverpool as a coach five-years later.
The tweet has circulated on social media with a Liverpool fan page sarcastically commenting: “Our Gaffa tonight.”
One fan said: “We’ve been infiltrated by a double agent,” while another joked that he was going to play centre-back Jarell Quansah as the striker.
Heitinga could send the Reds 14 points clear at the top – depending on how Arsenal fare at Nottingham Forest.
Once a Blue always a blue
— John Heitinga (@Johnheitinga) November 15, 2019
Why Liverpool Boss Arne Slot Has Been Banned 5l554
Liverpool coach John Heitinga leads the Reds against Newcastle and Southampton as Arne Slot’s replacement after both the manager and his assistant Sipke Hulshoff received two-game bans.
Slot and Hulshoff were shown red cards after the chaotic 2-2 draw with Everton.
The Dutch manager was angry with the officiating during the match where the Reds conceded a last-gasp equaliser.
Slot expressed his anger towards Oliver before offering what was described as an ‘aggressive handshake’.
Arne Slot was handed a £70,000 fine by the FA – with Hulshoff fined £7,000. Everton and Liverpool were fined £65,000 and £50,000 for failing to control their players in the aftermath.