Premier League set for U-turn on substitution rule after Jurgen Klopp complaints

Premier League clubs are set to make a U-turn on the top-flight's rules around substitutions following complaints by Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp.

During Project Restart, teams were allowed to make five changes during each game, in three separate periods. But that rule was dropped ahead of the 2020/2021 season, with clubs only permitted to make three subs per match since then.

That has been a frustration for many of the teams at the top of the table, who have been granted five subs in the European competitions. Klopp has been a particularly ardent supporter of changing the substitution rules permanently amid Liverpool 's busy fixture schedule.

"We played Sunday, Wednesday, Saturday and Tuesday, that's a horrible schedule. If we can make changes, we will do that. If it's not, it's not. It's essential that we go again for the five subs," he said earlier this month.

Opponents to Klopp's demands claim that the rule change would favour the big clubs over teams at the bottom end of the table. The bigger teams tend to have larger squads with more depth in quality, with the ability to make five subs allowing them to fully utilise that.

Despite those criticisms, it appears that the Premier League is set to fall in line with the other major European leagues, who kept the five subs rule in place. According to The Times, top-flight teams are set to agree to five subs being permitted from next season.

The proposed change will be voted on at a meeting of Premier League stakeholders on Thursday. There is said to be 'high confidence' that there is now enough support for the number of permitted subs to be increased and with it nine players allowed on the bench.

There is 'broad support' among Premier League managers and captains