Top Premier League clubs fail in bid for five substitutions in games next season

The Premier League have announced that they will revert to only permitting three substitutes per game from next season.

Five subs per game were temporarily allowed for the final 92 games of the 2019-20 campaign due to the coronavirus crisis.

Thirteen clubs voted in favour of reinstating the three subs, compared to seven who voted for five.

It has been argued that more substitutes favour the bigger and richer clubs who have more strength in depth than other smaller teams in the league.

And indeed, it was the likes of Manchester United, Manchester City, Liverpool, Arsenal and Chelsea who were pushing for five substitutes to be allowed.

But this will not be the case, in what will come as a boost to those who are expected to be fighting against relegation near the bottom of the table.

Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp recently spoke out about his opinion of the matter ahead of the Community Shield match against Arsenal last month.

The German said: “Yes. I know the discussion will go again that it’s an advantage for the bigger clubs. I don’t discuss it from that point of view. I don’t want to have an advantage in the competition.

“We have 38 Premier League games in a four-weeks shorter season. That says it all. And all the other competitions will be pretty much the same, as far as I know. That means just that these things would help. But I can imagine that other teams see it differently.

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“I saw it last season as well when we played the last nine games — Manchester City could bring on five players — ooh not bad! But it’s never for having an advantage. It’s all about how can we get through this season. Not: “Oh that’s a little advantage here”.  

“Getting in a good way through the season for the sake of the football players and the performance levels, I think it would make sense. But I don’t make the decisions.”