Manchester United’s rivalry with Liverpool is clearly huge on the pitch but it seems that it is alive and well off it as well.
There was a potentially vital vote among Premier League clubs last week which determined that clubs will follow new anchoring regulations.
The Athletic claim that these rules mean that “the de facto salary cap would limit the amount of money any club can invest in their squads by tying it to a multiple of what the lowest earners get from the league’s centralised broadcast and commercial deals.”
It is then clear why the majority of the mid-table and bottom sides would vote for it, but it was also popular among some bigger clubs in the league.
United, Manchester City and Aston Villa all voted against the new rules while Chelsea abstained from the process.
The reason for the Red Devils’ opposition is “there is a belief it would slow down INEOS’ attempt to turn the tide quickly at Old Trafford, while also undermining the ability of United — and other English clubs — to compete at the highest level in the European tournament.”
However, interestingly, Liverpool also voted in favor of the deal and Football Insider’s football financial expert, Kieran Maguire, believes there may be an element of malice behind their actions.
“Given that Liverpool have high revenue generation and commercial income, I was a little bit surprised by their vote”.
“But they are not generating quite as much as Manchester United and Manchester City, and therefore they will have done their sums.”
“There’s one thing you have to admire FSG for, which is the amount of forensic attention to detail that they undertake before making any decision. They will have realized that it would impact Manchester United and Manchester City marginally more than it would impact them.”
“Therefore it was in Liverpool’s best interests to vote for the anchoring rules.”
It seems strange that a team would vote to handcuff themselves financially just so their rivals are also constrained. However, perhaps it is an indication of the fear the Anfield side have about approaching next season without their talismanic coach Jurgen Klopp for the first time since 2015.
Moreover, it is also perhaps a compliment to the work they think that INEOS are about to embark on at Old Trafford that they seem so desperate to impede it at any cost.
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