Overview
- Ball assistants were seen giving replacement balls to Liverpool players after Harry Maguire's 84th‑minute goal, contrary to the protocol that keeps spare balls on cones.
- League guidance forbids interference with match or replacement balls and states that failures may be referred for investigation and regulatory action.
- Aston Villa were fined £125,000 in August for admitted breaches last season and were barred from using the multi-ball system for their first three home league games.
- Outfield players must retrieve the ball themselves or use the nearest cone under rules introduced in the 2022/23 campaign, with goalkeepers the only exception for goal kicks.
- Outlets citing the Daily Mail say Liverpool are expected to avoid a fine, while neither Liverpool nor the Premier League has commented.