Finance guru tips Liverpool to lose boardroom battle amid ‘huge backlash’
Liverpool would likely lose out in a vote on whether to green-light an end-of-season Premier League play-off title-decider.
That is the view of finance expert Doctor Dan Plumley, speaking exclusively to Football Insider about the “huge backlash” that the mooted new system would generate.
As relayed by The Athletic last Wednesday (29 June), the Italian Serie A title will from 2022-23 be decided by a play-off should the top two teams finish level on points.
Liverpool owners Fenway Sports Group hail from the United States, where an end-of-season play-off model is more common than in Europe.
But Plumley does not believe that FSG would be able to persuade the rest of the Premier League to follow Serie A’s example.
“I think that has probably been discussed in boardrooms, and Liverpool themselves would likely be up for it,” the Sheffield Hallam University expert told Football Insider’s Adam Williams.
“The financial aspects of a one-off play-off final would be really significant. However, I think similar to the Super League scenario, we are so proud of our system that there would be a huge backlash.
“I don’t see it getting a majority vote at this point in time. The culture of English football is still quite protective. We like the goal difference system the way it is at the moment.”
The Premier League has only been won on goal difference one time, by Man City in 2011-12.
At least 14 top-flight clubs would have to give their blessing for the Serie A model to be introduced.
In other news, pundit suggests Joe Gomez could give Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp “problem” after pictures emerge.