“Fans Are Being Cheated” – Richard Keys Calls for Rule Change Following Newcastle 2-3 Liverpool Clash

Richard Keys Urges Premier League to Introduce Major Rule Change After Liverpool’s Win Over Newcastle

Following Liverpool’s dramatic victory over Newcastle United, former Sky Sports presenter Richard Keys has called for a major change in Premier League rules. The match, filled with intensity and late drama, ended with a 100th-minute goal from 26-year-old Rio Ngumoha, securing the win for Arne Slot’s side on Monday night.

Despite losing, Newcastle might feel hard done by, having dominated much of the game—even after Anthony Gordon was sent off in the first half. However, the tactics employed by Eddie Howe’s team have come under scrutiny once again. A new statistic from the match has now sparked renewed debate, prompting Keys to demand changes to the current rules.

Keys Demands Overhaul After Alarming Stat Emerges

After the match, Arne Slot criticized Newcastle’s approach, claiming that the overuse of set-pieces limited the amount of actual football played. Supporting his concerns, new data has revealed that the ball was only in play for 40.8% of the match—a strikingly low figure.

According to Opta, this marks the lowest ball-in-play percentage in a Premier League game since February 2010, when Stoke City defeated Blackburn with just 40% of the match being active play. Stoke, known for their reliance on set-pieces, never faced as much criticism as Howe’s Newcastle side currently does.

In response to the statistic, Keys expressed his frustration on social media, stating:
“A match that went beyond 100 minutes only had 40.8% ball-in-play time – the lowest in 15 years. Fans are being shortchanged. We need a 60-minute ball-in-play clock.”

Calls for Reform Not New

Back in 2023, officials implemented guidelines to extend added time in matches, aiming to combat time-wasting and provide more active football. PGMOL chief Howard Webb said at the time that effective playtime had been declining and needed addressing, citing a League Two average of just 48 minutes.

However, even with 11 minutes of added time on Monday, the lack of real action remained an issue. This has reignited discussions around implementing a stop-clock or shot clock system to ensure fans get the football they pay to see.