Liverpool will be more inclined to keep ‘incredible’ player after Premier League rule change – RTK View

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Liverpool will surely be more inclined to keep Sadio Mané after the Premier League voted for five substitutions next season. The player’s contract expires next year.

Premier League clubs have officially voted to have five substitutions in matches from next season. It’s quite a big change to the game and one Jurgen Klopp has been vocal about over the last few seasons.

It’s a move to counter player fatigue across what can be a gruelling schedule – though, one that almost certainly benefits bigger clubs. After all, the deeper your squad, the more you can take advantage of this rule. It’s easier to keep players happy, too, and get more use out of them.

The latter two points there feel particularly important to Liverpool right now. In fact, they could make it more likely that Sadio Mané remains with the club.

Sadio Mané at Liverpool

Mané’s contract expires in 2023, making this a massive summer for him. While an awful lot of focus has been on Mohamed Salah’s status at the club, Mané’s is a huge decision, too.

We imagine the Reds want him to sign a new contract on the ‘right’ terms. But what it he doesn’t? Should Liverpool cash-in now? Or should they get an extra season out of him before losing Mané for free?

We think this rule change makes the latter more likely. Liverpool boast many fantastic forwards right now and now all can start every game. But this change makes it easier to get full value out of having such an incredible array of talent in one area of the pitch.

Liverpool can almost guarantee enough out of Mané next season to justify not selling him. That’s no necessarily the case with limited subs as the likes of Luis Diaz risk pushing him out of the XI.

But not being in that XI every week isn’t quite as important as it was. Even just in having more quality substitutes who provide extra depth, Liverpool gain quite a lot in having so many star forwards.

So when they’re making their big decision this summer, it feels as though they’ll be more inclined to keep Mané around no matter the outcome with his contract.