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FSG clearly wants things to change. Liverpool’s owners have overseen the club’s resurgence as a European superpower with Jürgen Klopp at the helm, and it now appears that their intention is to transform football in England. The proposals presented in ‘Project Big Picture’ are likely to coincide with possible changes in the Champions League, which could, by the 2024/25 season, be completely revised to resemble something more like a Super League.
It is possible that the groups are no longer composed of four teams, but eight. That would mean more games, from six to 14, in the early stages of the competition. There has also been talk that matches will be played on weekdays and weekends, hence the suggestion that the Champions League could be transformed into the much-discussed Super League.
The prospect of a league made up exclusively of Europe’s elite clubs has been looming on the horizon for some time, and it seems to be approaching. There are parts of Project Big Picture that suggest that the FSG has a renewed Champions League in mind: in particular, the elimination of the League Cup and the Community Shield. Both competitions, especially the League Cup, add to the match congestion experienced by the best teams early in the season. That has been especially notable this quarter, with a late start that made the soccer calendar feel even more crowded and frantic than usual.
So with more games to play in the Champions League / Super League, FSG would clearly prefer to do without the Carabao Cup hassle. Realistically, the match list would be too busy for even the best-endowed teams.
When these possible changes were discussed, a statement was issued on behalf of the Premier League clubs stating that it would be “inappropriate for European football bodies to create plans that would alter the structures, the schedule and the competitiveness of the national game.”
That perhaps explains part of the motivation behind FSG’s Project Big Picture plans. Having a select group of clubs as ‘long-term stakeholders’ would facilitate the introduction of a Super League that effectively runs parallel to the Premier League. Finishing in the top four may no longer be given as much importance when it comes to ‘access lists’ in deciding which teams play in the Champions League. Again, that sounds a lot like a Super League, like a move that will benefit the elite and push the rest into darkness.
Liverpool are now part of the previous category and despite all the controversy that will inevitably come with these proposals, none of which have been confirmed yet, it is a potentially exciting time for fans.
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In theory, Klopp’s team would only get stronger, given the need to invest in the team for what would become a two-pronged fight. The Champions League is demanding as it is, but additional games in the hypothetical revised format would make it an entirely different beast.
There may be no League Cup, but Liverpool are in a position where they can fully rotate and play with youngsters or players in that competition. That would not be possible in the Champions League, given the quality of the rival. It would take careful planning to keep the squad in good shape, and there would be more pressure on the club to sign players. Indeed, it may be necessary to have two first-class options in each position, which is not easy to achieve.
A renewed Champions League, then, would lead to drastic changes for all the biggest clubs in Europe. It might just propel Liverpool forward and take the club to an even higher level. But there will be challenges to come along, and even more pressure than there is now.
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