Kieran Maguire warns Klopp ‘be careful’ after ‘weird’ Liverpool swipe at chiefs
It is “weird” that Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp would complain about the Premier League’s constitution given the success it has reaped.
So say finance guru Kieran Maguire, speaking exclusively to Football Insider about the elite German manager’s recent sideswipe at the top flight.
Klopp is an advocate of reintroducing the five-substitutes rule, which would require the assent of the heads of 14 Premier League clubs to be passed.
Per The Sun last Monday (27 December), he bemoaned the fact that the likes of “Burnley” have an equal say despite having fewer international players.
Liverpool’s squad will be stretched thin over the next month as Mohamed Salah, Sadio Mane and Naby Keita head to the Africa Cup of Nations.
But Maguire warned Klopp not to bite the hand that feeds Liverpool by taking aim at the Premier League’s constitution.
“I find complaining about having to have two-thirds majority somewhat weird,” he told Football Insider‘s Adam Williams.
“Some countries’ constitutions demand a significant majority to get stuff passed.
“The Premier League has been very successful. If we didn’t have that model, we would have a less successful Premier League.
“If power is concentrated in the hands of the few, I don’t think that is necessarily good for the long-term appeal Premier League.
“With regards to the five subs rule, I’ve got a lot of sympathies. It does allow flexibility. Pep Guardiola is in favour as well. It allows players to rest legs.
“There is an element of self-interest here but I think there is limited evidence it will benefit just the big clubs. Brighton, for example, always vote in favour.
“But Klopp has to be a little bit careful because the Premier League has been an unparalleled success with this constitution.
“He is at a club that wanted the rule changed so that only the six clubs that had been in the Premier League the longest dictated how the league operated. That doesn’t seem very democratic.“
Liverpool will play five times before the latest date that Salah, Mane and Keita could return from the Cup of Nations.
Two of those games are in the league, while they also have an FA Cup third round clash against Shrewsbury Town and League Cup semi-final ties against Arsenal.
In other news, ex-Fifa referee claims Sadio Mane should get extended Liverpool ban after controversial footage analysed.