Premier League to review multiball breaches by Liverpool staff

Liverpool will face talks with the Premier League after ball attendants and staff breached the league's multiball protocol several times during Sunday’s 2-1 defeat to Manchester United at Anfield, officials said. The breaches occurred in the closing stages of the match after Harry Maguire headed United ahead in the 84th minute, when spare balls were passed or thrown directly to Liverpool players rather than remaining on cones around the pitch as required.

Under rules introduced in 2022, replacement balls must be positioned on tees or cones around the perimeter and outfield players are expected to retrieve them; only goalkeepers are exempt when restarting with a goal kick. The guidance states that participants must not interfere with the multiball system, the match ball or the replacement balls at any time. The protocol was implemented to keep play flowing while preventing home teams from gaining an advantage by supplying balls to their own players.

Video and eyewitness reports from Anfield showed ball attendants lobbing balls to Liverpool players on multiple occasions as the home side sought an equaliser. Liverpool head coach Arne Slot was also seen throwing a ball to a player...