Premier League punishment for Liverpool?! Reds set for showdown talks after breaking rules late on in loss to Man Utd

Per the Daily Mail, the Premier League are set to speak with Liverpool to remind them of the nature of the multi-ball rules in fixtures played under their banner. In 2022, rules were changed, meaning that players are now expected to pick the ball up themselves, instead of waiting for ball boys or girls to throw it to them. However, after Harry Maguire scored a late goal for United at Anfield to give Ruben Amorim's side a 2-1 lead, which they would not surrender, the ball attendants repeatedly threw them to players in a bid to restart play quickly. 

The rule also precludes staff from picking up the ball and throwing it to a player, something that Reds manager Arne Slot was guilty of as time ticked down. Liverpool have now lost four games in a row, sparking what could be fairly termed as a crisis on Merseyside.

A precedent was established in August after Aston Villa were found guilty of breaking the regulations, and were fined £125,000. They accepted that last season they had ignored the rules on no fewer five occasions. As well as ball staff throwing the ball to players, they were also alleged to have thrown another ball onto the pitch while the opposition goalkeeper was in possession of the match ball on the pitch. The report makes it clear that Liverpool do not expect a fine after one example of failing to abide by the rules, but they do expect to be reminded of their responsibilities towards them. United, for their part, did not actually make a complaint, although the Red Devils were said to be surprised that it went unchecked during the game. As a result of the ban, Villa were also suspended from using the multi-ball system in three games. 

The Reds have endured a dismal run under Arne Slot's management and have now gone four games in all competitions without a win. Not just that, they have been beaten by Crystal Palace, Chelsea, and United in the league, and by Galatasaray in the Champions League. The Reds have not endured such a run since 2014 under Brendan Rodgers, and have not lost five games in a row since September of 1953. 

Slot bemoaned his side's bad luck after the final whistle, while taking a jab at United, telling reporters: "It's always difficult to play against a team that defends in a low block, that mainly plays a long ball but it makes it even more difficult if you go 1-0 down after one minute after a player of ours is on the floor.

"I think if you would have told me before the game, against a low block and against a team that plays so many long balls, that we would have created as many chances as we did - I would not have expected us to lose this game.

"I think people forget how many chances we had when we were 1-0 down in the first half because when you're 1-0 down it's quite normal that people focus on the ball you play wrong or a moment where you could have played forward and you don't."

Liverpool's next fixture comes against Eintracht Frankfurt in the Champions League as the Reds attempt to wrestle back some control over their fate. Slot will be desperate to avoid a fifth successive defeat. The Reds won their opening European encounter, beating Atletico Madrid 3-2 at Anfield, before their defeat to Galatasaray. After their continental trip, they face Brentford away from home this weekend.