Everton attacker Andros Townsend has revealed that Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has gotten his way again after the Premier League agreed to the five-men substitution next season.
The Premier League initially used the five-men substitution during the project restart in the 2019/2020 season during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Jurgen Klopp and Pep Guardiola had been complaining about why all the five major leagues in Europe are all using five men to substitute post-Covid. The Premier League club agreed in March that the new rule will be in force effective next season.
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Most of the “Small Clubs” in the Premier League were against the five-men substitution claiming it would favor the “Big six Clubs”.
However, Andros Townsend believes the new rule will be a disadvantage to the smaller clubs with Manchester City and Liverpool the biggest beneficiaries of five men substitute because of their squad depth and the quality within their ranks.
What did Andros Townsend say?
The Everton attacker said vai talkSPORTS breakfast show: “I love how Jurgen Klopp has found a way to get his way again.
“He’s been moaning for years. They have been pushing back and finally, they have given in and given him his five subs. And he will probably still use two or three in the biggest games.
“But, hey, who are we to argue with him?
“I think in the biggest games Liverpool and City, they use one or two subs. They don’t use the full three subs.
“I think it’s the games against Crystal Palace or Brentford, where they can’t break teams down, it’s 0-0, they have 11 behind the ball. Right, can we bring on five world-class internationals who are fresh and can change the game? Can we bring them on to break down this stubborn defense? And that’s where I think it becomes a bit unfair.”
Andros Townsend added: “I don’t think it makes it less competitive. It’s still going to be the most competitive league in the world. I just think it gives those top sides an extra advantage.
“Hopefully my side is one of those teams that will have the advantage with the squad that we’re looking to build.
“And, on a personal level coming back from an ACL injury, five subs will probably suit me. But I just think, on the whole, it suits your Jurgen Klopps and your Pep Guardiolas who have 30 world-class internationals.”
Andros Townsend also claims Jurgen Klopp always has ways of getting what he wants.
Townsend continued: “I think we saw last season, and even the season before, just the constant banging on, banging on about votes, on votes, on votes, getting pushed back, and then, all of a sudden, they announce the five subs bench.
“I think as well, last season, again, moaning about the schedule, moaning about this, moaning about that… All of a sudden BT Sport put a Liverpool game on Saturday night, which I’ve never seen before in the Premier League.
“So obviously all of this moaning and moaning puts pressure on the authorities to give him what he wants, and he has got what he wants on many occasions.”
