Managers' touchline conduct subject to new guidelines

Jose Mourinho and Arsene Wenger were involved in a touchline row last season

Football’s governing bodies in England have agreed to a code of conduct for managers and anyone else in the technical area during matches.

The code, jointly agreed by the FA, Premier League, Football League,  LMA and PFA, is designed as guidance for players, coaches and staff ahead of the new season.

It follows a series of high profile incidents over the past few seasons where the conduct of managers on the touchline have made the headlines.

Alan Pardew received a seven game ban after he head-butted David Meyler in a game between Newcastle and Hull City in March 2014 and the then Sunderland boss Gus Poyet was sent to the stands - and later charged by the FA - after a touchline row with Steve Bruce a year later.

Other clashes have gone unpunished - including Arsene Wenger's shove on Jose Mourinho during a league game between Chelsea and Arsenal at Stamford Bridge last season.

The simmering feud between Wenger and Mourinho was on the back pages again last weekend when the pair failed to shake hands following the Community Shield game at Wembley – although Mourinho told Sky Sports News HQ Wenger was within his rights not to shake his hand.

The code of conduct contains nothing new in terms of what is punishable but it does set out a two-step process for dealing with transgressors.

Individuals can be warned if their conduct is minor – such as sarcastic applause towards an official, verbally abusing opponents or persistently leaving the technical area.

Step two involves the removal of people from the technical area for a major infraction – usually an act of aggression such as kicking balls or water bottles onto the pitch.

There is one FA new rule about surrounding the referee - if two or more players surround and question the referee in an aggressive manner it can now bring an FA charge and a potential ban or fine.

This is a change from last season when the limit was set at three players – although it is important to stress that players can still approach an official, just not in an exaggerated manner.

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Clyne: Title challenge the aim for Liverpool

Nathaniel Clyne: Aiming high with Liverpool

Nathaniel Clyne says Liverpool's season aim should be to challenge for the Premier League title and make the final of a cup competition.

Clyne joined Liverpool for £12.5million from Southampton earlier in the summer and is in line to make his competitive debut for the club alongside several other new signings in Sunday's opening game at Stoke.

The Reds finished a disappointing sixth last season, but Clyne believes Brendan Rodgers will be targeting much loftier heights this time around.

"With the squad that we have, I would like to think that we'll look to win every competition that we're in," Clyne told the official Liverpool FC Magazine.

"Our aim has to be a title challenge and trying to make the final of one of the cup competitions, while doing as well as we can in the Europa League.

"My main objective for this season is to establish myself as a Liverpool player.

"If I can do that, hopefully I can be part of the England squad at next summer's Euros.

"I know that's not going to be easy as there are a lot of quality players fighting for positions in that squad at the end of the season.

"But that's for down the line. First and foremost, I've got a job to do this season and I can't wait to get started."

While Clyne is hoping for a title challenge this season, Peter Crouch has warned his former club will find it difficult to even get back into the Champions League.

"A club like Liverpool should be competing in the Champions League," the 34-year-old said in the Daily Mirror. They've got a good squad full of world-class players, and on their day they can beat anyone.

"They have improved from last season, but it's going to be tough. United and City are spending money, Chelsea are strengthening too, so it's going to be difficult for them.

"I would love to see them do it. I was lucky enough to play when we qualified every year and I think that's where they should be. Hopefully, they will get there."

Crouch was on target on the final day of last season when Stoke thrashed Liverpool 6-1, but the striker is not expecting such an easy afternoon this time around.

"It was a surreal day, but we're not expecting that again," he added. "It will be a tough game.

"We've been fantastic at home against the big teams, so hopefully we can keep that going."

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Liverpool can take City's CL spot - James

Christian Benteke: Among several new Liverpool signings

Manchester City are in danger of surrendering their place in the top four of the Premier League to Liverpool, according to David James.

City signed Raheem Sterling from Liverpool earlier this summer and have also added Fabian Delph and Patrick Roberts to their squad, but James is not sure they have strengthened enough to maintain their Champions League status.

"I generally think Man City of the top four are the weak link," the former England goalkeeper said at the launch of BT Sport's new Premier League coverage.

"Man City, again, they have got all this talent, they have won the title twice - or rather tripped over the line twice.

"Look at Chelsea last season. The title was won in November. If Arsenal had started better, I think Chelsea would have carried on longer just to win the league by 10, 15 points, whatever.

"I don't see the Man City model being right, just spending loads of money and acquiring players. It isn't necessarily the model of continued success. I have seen changes elsewhere and at the moment I am not seeing that at Man City. It is just spend a bit more and expect success."

Liverpool finished sixth last season, down from second in 2013-14, but James believes changes to the backroom team will lead to an improvement in the coming campaign.

"I am not one of the owners but if you look at the whole business model there is a flaw somewhere and, at the moment, they might think it is at the coaching level," James said.

"I think this is the season of the coach. I think with the new coaches they have a great chance of qualifying for the Champions League at the expense of Man City.

"I am encouraged Liverpool have changed the coaching staff. No disrespect to the other people. The acquisition of so many players to Liverpool and no success, there has to be a reason for that. I think it is environmental, it is not recruitment.

"Now, with the new coaching staff, Liverpool will be winning far more games and the onus on Mignolet won't be as acute. Statistically, he has been one of the high performers in the Premier League.

"That's not to say as a Premier League keeper you should expect not to have to do too much work - when I signed for Liverpool, I fell into the trap that I wouldn't be that busy as Liverpool were one of the best sides in Europe. Then suddenly I am out of the side because I let in too many goals.

"Liverpool haven't won the league since 1990 - 25 years. But, using my brief experience as a manager in India, you work out what you do and what you let others do and Brendan has had three years where he's done what he has wanted to do.

"I would argue now he is probably looking at a different way of doing it, otherwise the coaches wouldn't have been replaced. You can't spend £250m on players and have no success."

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Gotze wants Pep talks over future

Mario Gotze: Bayern spell 'not been so easy'

Mario Gotze remains unsure where he figures in Pep Guardiola's plans and will hold talks with the coach before deciding if he has a future at Bayern Munich.

The Germany international started for Bayern in the Audi Cup on Tuesday only days after being told by Guardiola that he, like every Bayern player, will be judged by what he does on the field and that he cannot have a guaranteed starting berth.

Serie A club Juventus have shown an interest with preliminary talks already held with Bayern as part of the sale of Arturo Vidal to Munich for 37million euros.

The Bianconeri may have been impressed with what they saw from Gotze in the 3-0 win over AC Milan and they could follow up their initial interest with a more serious bid, considering their attempt to sign Julian Draxler from Schalke seems doomed to failure.

Gotze could therefore face AC Milan again in Serie A this season, and he would not rule out such an eventuality when talking to reporters at the Allianz Arena on Tuesday.

"I played a pretty good game tonight and now we'll have to see what happens next," he said.

"All will become clear if the coach will talk to me more often. I'll just wait and see, then we'll also see what happens after. [My future] will also then be revealed.

"The last two years have not been so easy."

Gotze joined Bayern from Borussia Dortmund two years ago, tempted by the opportunity to work under Guardiola but has struggled to establish himself as a key player among their raft of attacking talent.

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