Liverpool may be handed unfair advantage after major Premier League development – Mills
The reintroduction of five substitutes will give teams like Liverpool an unfair advantage, according to Danny Mills.
Speaking exclusively to Football Insider, the ex-Man City and England defender insisted the proposed change would benefit the “bigger clubs” because of their strength in depth.
As quoted by ESPN last week (7 March), Jurgen Klopp insisted his side’s “horrible” schedule means the Premier League must have five substitutes to protect his squad.
When the Premier League restarted in June 2020 after the coronavirus lockdown five substitutes were allowed but it went back to three at the beginning of the 2020-2021 campaign.
The Daily Mail reported yesterday (14 March) top-flight clubs have been told to expect a vote on its reintroduction in June’s AGM.
“I do think it strengthens the big clubs,” Mills told Football Insider correspondent Connor Whitley.
“There is an argument to say it means so-called lesser clubs can bring on fresh legs when they are working hard and don’t have the ball.
“But they don’t have the budget to replace like-for-like whereas Man City, Liverpool, Chelsea, Man United and Arsenal and Tottenham, to a point, can replace players with better players. Not only do they get fresher legs they get better quality on and that’s because their finances are much bigger.
“I understand that argument both ways but I do think it favours the bigger clubs with a bigger budget, definitely because their strength in depth is deeper.”
Europe’s other four big domestic leagues and Uefa’s competitions all still have five subs.
Teams are also allowed to make five subs in both the EFL Cup and FA Cup.
In other news, an ex-Fifa official has been left ‘gobsmacked’ by Mike Dean and his colleague ‘sleeping on the job’ as a Liverpool controversy is analysed.