JAKARTA - Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has reiterated the need for five substitutions in the Premier League to protect players amid a hectic schedule and the increase in COVID-19 cases. However, he also admitted that he did not see all clubs agreeing to the proposed rule change.
Europe's top leagues have adopted a five-game substitution rule to ease the player's workload amid the COVID-19 pandemic, but Premier League clubs have rejected this proposal.
Fifteen Premier League games have already been postponed this month due to the coronavirus outbreak which has caused fixtures to pile up, while a lack of players ready to play has forced those recovering from COVID-19 to play more game time.
"You need 14 votes to change it, something goes wrong. For example, I'm not sure how many Burnley players play international football," Klopp said.
According to him, when Liverpool's players were faced with three matches, Burnley didn't even face a single match.
"We discussed a problem that some clubs and players definitely have to deal with, but that issue is decided by another team. Since we made a competition about this, they said no. That's the problem."
“The best league in the world, the fiercest league in the world, is the only league that still applies the three substitutes rule. It's not right, we have to change it (but) I don't see any chance of changing it, to be honest."
Brentford manager Thomas Frank also called for the five substitution rule to be implemented.
"I completely agree we need five substitutes. I know I am (part of) one of the lowest budget clubs and probably the leanest squad, but I still think the rule will help us all," Frank said.
Manchester United interim manager Ralf Rangnick last week called for the substitution rule to be changed to five players.
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