25 years on, the culture of dissent is alive and kicking (and spitting and cursing)

WITH his clipboard, laptop, or whatever, Sipke Hulshoff cuts a semi-important figure on the Liverpool bench.

- ANDY DUNN Britain's best Sports Writer

But then again, in the modern-day Premier League, it is hard to tell who does what amongst the cast of thousands in what once passed for a dugout.

It is tough to distinguish your assistant video analyst from your back-up goalkeeping coach.

It is hard to separate Tom, Dick and Harry. They are all down there.

Amusingly, Aston Villa's set-piece coach Austin MacPhee enters the technical area when Unai Emery's team has either an attacking or a defensive dead-ball situation.

At Anfield earlier this season, he watched as the home side turned almost every Villa corner into a chance for themselves.

Hulshoff is clearly a trusted, long-standing lieutenant of Arne Slot's and his rightful place is alongside the Liverpool manager. But his place is not in the face of the fourth official.

During Liverpool's defeat in the first leg of their Carabao Cup semi-final against Tottenham Hotspur, Hulshoff was booked for his ranting and raving.