Liverpool are reportedly set to receive a reminder from the Premier League about strict regulations they must follow, after their 2-1 loss to Manchester United on Sunday.
The defeat, which marked their fourth consecutive loss, came amid claims from the Daily Mail that the Reds could soon hold talks with league officials following several breaches of the Premier League’s multi-ball system rules.
Introduced in 2022, the system involves placing balls on designated tees around the pitch. Ball boys and girls are instructed not to hand balls directly to players but to leave them on the tees to promote faster play and prevent time-wasting.
However, during Sunday’s match, as Liverpool chased a late equaliser, the club appeared to break the rules multiple times. Ball retrievers were seen throwing balls to players, and manager Arne Slot was spotted tossing one to a player in the closing minutes. Although Manchester United staff reportedly noticed the incidents, no formal complaint was made.
There is precedent for punishment — last season, Aston Villa were fined £125,000 and banned from using the multi-ball system for their first three home games of the next campaign after repeated violations under Unai Emery. Their offences included attendants handing balls directly to players and using extra balls during corners or goal-kick situations.
The Premier League emphasised that all clubs must follow the multi-ball protocol to ensure fairness and consistency, preventing any potential home advantage through misuse.
While Liverpool are not expected to face such a severe penalty, they will likely be issued a formal reminder to comply with the rules and avoid future breaches.
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