Liverpool are set for a showdown with the Premier League after it emerged the Reds broke some rules during their 2-1 defeat to Manchester United.
Arne Slots’ team suffered a fourth defeat in a row on Sunday, with Harry Maguire bagging a late winner to give United victory at Anfield for the first time since 2016.
Bryan Mbuemo’s early strike was cancelled out by Cody Gakpo but Maguire popped up with a header at the far post to inflict more misery on the out of form Premier League champions.
As Slot finds a way to restore his team’s dignity, the Reds are braced for a “showdown” with the Premier League for not following protocol in the fixture, according to Daily Mail.
Official Premier League Nike match ball is seen on a cone pitch side as part of the new multi ball system. (Photo by Robbie Jay Barratt – AMA/Getty Images)
According to the report, there were multiple breaches of the league’s multi-ball system regulations, which were brought in back in 2022 in bid to speed up play and limit the amount of delays and timewasting.
The system requires balls to be placed on cones/tees for players to collect, with ball boys and girls are instructed to not hand balls over.
Against United, as Liverpool pushed for an equaliser, not only did the ball attendants threw the ball back to players but there was also one instance whereby Arne Slot chucked it to one of his stars – which is not permitted as the rule applies to those in the technical area.
Liverpool are only likely to be reminded that they must adhere to the rules but there is a recent instance whereby a club have been punished for not following multi-ball protocol.
In August, following a sanction agreement, Aston Villa were fined £125,000 for breaking the rules on five occasions 2024/25 – accepting the breach after ball boys and girls handed the ball to players.
