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There was once a Liverpool game where both sides had a penalty, where the Reds coach told his opposing number to get ‘pissed off’ at full time.
However, after Liverpool’s last game, which featured a penalty at each end, the two coaches had a much more harmonious discussion, and it had nothing to do with whether or not the penalties had been awarded correctly.
“We are not talking about the result, we are talking about having to fight over and over again without five substitutions,” he added. said Pep Guardiola when asked what he and Jürgen Klopp had discussed at the end of Manchester City’s 1-1 draw with the Reds.
It was interesting that the two coaches set out to raise the issue after a game in which they made only three substitutions for each other, one of which was forced due to injury. However, as Athletic are reporting that the EFL is ready to re-allow five substitutes, it is natural to assume that the Premier League can do the same in due course.
And based on his limited record to date, Klopp will make almost full use of as many additional potential changes from the bank if given the opportunity.
Five substitutes are still allowed in the Champions League this season, and Liverpool have used the full complement of them in all three games so far. Joe Gomez is the only player participating in every minute of every European game, while he and the first-choice full-backs are the only men to have started all three games.
With the flexibility that comes with more substitutions, Klopp hasn’t been afraid to make changes early. This was particularly true against Ajax and Midtjylland, with a sub half time in both games.
And although injuries have played a role, the Liverpool manager has also been able to use more of his squad in Europe. Divock Origi, Kostas Tsimikas, as well as Neco and Rhys Williams have appeared in the Champions League without having yet appeared in the Premier League in 2020/21.
As much as Klopp’s key men benefit from taking a breather from league action, players on the fringes of the Reds’ squad would have a better chance of participating if five substitutes were allowed. It is they who may benefit the most from the proposed change to the Premier League rules.
After all, Liverpool only failed to use three of their 45 potential substitutes in their nine league games last season once football resumed in June. It may be a coincidence, but it is interesting that the two games where the available trades remained on the bench were in two of the games that the Reds failed to win.
Klopp used just three substitutes in a 1-1 draw with Burnley, and left five of his nine substitutes on the bench in the defeat at Emirates Stadium in the following match. With the title already in the bag, the Reds didn’t need the points in the slightest, but perhaps the Liverpool manager was reluctant to pitch on young players as his team chased the game.
However, he was not afraid to use them sometimes. Curtis Jones, Takumi Minamino and Neco Williams made their first Premier League starts for the club after the restart, while Harvey Elliott enjoyed the longest, albeit brief, career of his limited top flight career with Liverpool.
Klopp also implemented a three-game halftime trade, which has continued as a theme in Europe in 2020/21, while double and even triple substitutions also occurred.
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In all nine matches, Liverpool made at least one double change, with matches with Crystal Palace, Arsenal and Chelsea seeing two of them. In every game except the clash with the Eagles, there was a double or triple substitution between the 61st and 69th minutes, probably with the greatest use of the bench in club history seen in Newcastle.
In the 64th minute, with his team winning 2-1 at St James’ Park, Klopp brought in Roberto Firmino, Sadio Mané and Mohamed Salah in one go. It doesn’t seem fair, does it?
However, Premier League teams can expect to face similar headaches if they make the decision that everyone is slowly accepting that they need to protect the players. It will be fascinating to see how Klopp faces the rest of the season if his wish for five substitutions becomes a reality.
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