Expert: Liverpool now have ‘decisive’ advantage as Champions League rule change confirmed
The new expanded Champions League format will favour those with strength in depth like Liverpool.
That is the view of medical expert Ben Dinnery, who runs the Premier Injuries site and has a background in medicine data analysis.
Uefa confirmed last Tuesday (10 May)that there will be two extra match days in the group stage under a new Swiss system format from 2024-25.
European football’s ruling body had originally planned for an extra four matchdays but pushback from clubs concerned about an already crowded fixture list forced them to backtrack.
Liverpool have been one of the Champions League’s most successful teams in recent years and face Real Madrid in the final in Paris next Saturday (22 May).
And Dinnery insists that the Merseysiders’ squad size will be “decisive” in giving them an extra advantage in the competition post-2024.
“If we look at Liverpool specifically, they are effectively carrying two first XIs that they can rotate and interchange with ease,” he told Football Insider’s Adam Williams.
“In the Benfica tie, there were 13 changes from the league over the two legs. Villareal, there were nine. Alisson, the goalkeeper, is part of those figures.
“Klopp has built a squad with strength and depth and players he believes in. There are players who aren’t playing as regularly as they’d like to but they put in good performances when called on.
“There are so many top-quality players competing for places. So with these two extra games, I don’t see it being an issue.
“Squad size is the decisive factor. In fact, this will give more opportunities for players on the fringes to build sharpness and build fitness.”
Liverpool have already won the League Cup and FA Cup this term and remain in the hunt for an unprecedented quadruple.
They conclude their domestic campaign at home to Wolves on Sunday (22 May).
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