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Liverpool at risk of Premier League punishment after Man Utd loss
Tom Weber
- 21 Oct 2025 21:19 BST
- 4 min read
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Liverpool breached the Premier League's multi-ball rules multiple times during their loss to Manchester United, according to a report.
The Reds are currently in turmoil, having lost four games on the bounce. On Sunday, they were defeated by rivals Man Utd on home soil, with Arne Slot's team still looking dysfunctional and disorganised.
It was Man Utd's first win at Anfield since 2016 and the first time that under-fire head coach Ruben Amorim won back-to-back Premier League games.
To make matters worse for Liverpool, they are now set to be reprimanded by the Premier League for breaching its little-known multi-ball rule, according to the Daily Mail.
In the summer, Aston Villa were hit with a hefty fine after being found guilty of numerous, continued offences over the course of the previous season. However, the report states that Liverpool are unlikely to face a similar punishment given that their violations exclusively took place in one game.
What is the Premier League's multi-ball system?
Introduced in 2022, the Premier League's multi-ball system stipulates that match balls have to be placed on tees around the pitch, with players having to pick them up themselves. Ball boys and girls are no longer permitted to directly hand the balls to players.
The system was ostensibly implemented to speed up play and to counteract partisan ball attendants giving home teams an advantage by offering the ball quickly when their side was chasing the game, or taking their time when the opponents needed a goal.
Liverpool violated the rules on several occasions as they were pursuing an equaliser, with even head coach Arne Slot guilty of an infringement. Managers are not allowed to hand balls to their players.
Man Utd did not file a complaint against Liverpool, but the report claims that "eyes were raised among the travelling delegation from Old Trafford." The Premier League will remind the Reds that they have to abide by the rules as is customary after breaches.
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