Topics: Richard Matters, Pep Guardiola, Jurgen Klopp, Manchester City, Liverpool, English Premier League
Man City and Liverpool have been leading the push to reinstate five subs in the English top-flight.

The five-sub rule has been dominating the conversation surrounding the Premier League, with the likes of Klopp, Guardiola, Solskjaer, and Arteta calling for its return. This has sparked a huge debate, with the English top-flight chief executive Richard Matters now issuing a response on this subject.

The managers at England’s top-six clubs have all spoken out against the congested fixtures list and strain it is causing on the players, with more and more footballers picking up muscle injuries. The key point of contention behind this matter is the number of substitutes permitted per game, with the league reverting back to a maximum of three after two rounds of voting were held.

Man City and Liverpool are said to be leading the push, pointing at Europe’s other top league and how they kept the five-sub rule in tact to cope with the growing physical demands. However, Matters has all but squashed any hope of it returning.

“There is an argument that five substitutes changes the competitive balance of a football match,” the chief executive said during his appearance before the MPs (as per the Sun).

“We’ve had two votes on it at club level and both have been conclusively supportive of returning to three subs.

“I don’t see that changing for the foreseeable future. It’s been voted on twice.”

One of the biggest arguments against allowing five changes per game is that it hands an unfair advantage to the bigger teams with larger, more talented squads. Crystal Palace winger Andros Townsend recently raised this point while on talkSPORT, pointing at Pep and Klopp’s refusal to use even the three subs during Man City’s 1-1 draw with Liverpool.