Liverpool set to be deducted 15 points amidst title race š±š” Why Liverpool Made Six Substitutions Against Southampton ā And Could They Face a Points Deduction? Liverpoolās dominant march toward the Premier League title hit an unexpected moment of confusion during their clash against Southampton, leaving fans puzzledāand even concernedāabout a potential points deduction. The Reds made what appeared to be six substitutions, exceeding the usual five allowed in a match. So, was this a costly mistake, or was there a valid explanation?

Liverpoolās Six Substitutions: Is a Points Deduction a Concern?
The Confusion Over Substitutions
Liverpoolās relentless push for the Premier League title momentarily faced controversy when the team appeared to make six substitutions during their recent fixture against Southampton. The unexpected situation led to concerns among fans about whether the club could face a points deduction.
The match itself had its share of drama. Southampton, struggling near the bottom of the table for most of the season, briefly stunned the home crowd at Anfield. A miscommunication between Alisson and Virgil van Dijk allowed Will Smallbone to pounce and put the visitors ahead.
Liverpool, however, quickly regained control. Darwin Nunez found the equalizer before winning a penalty, which Mohamed Salah confidently converted. Salah later secured another penalty goal, sealing the victory and keeping Liverpool ahead of second-placed Arsenal in the title race.
What Led to the Confusion?
Liverpool made three changes at halftime, using up half of their available substitutions. As the match progressed, Diogo Jota replaced Nunez just before the 70th minute, followed by Wataru Endo coming on for Ryan Gravenberch with around 10 minutes remaining.
By standard league rules, that should have been Liverpoolās final substitution. However, in the closing minutes of the match, Arne Slot introduced Jarell Quansah as a sixth substitute, causing immediate confusion. Even Mohamed Salah appeared alarmed, reportedly trying to prevent the change, fearing it might lead to disciplinary action against the team.
Will Liverpool Face a Punishment?
Despite the initial concerns, Liverpool have nothing to worry about. The additional substitution was permitted under Premier League rules.
Earlier in the game, Southamptonās Jan Bednarek had to be taken off due to a head injury and was replaced by Armel Bella-Kotchap. According to the leagueās concussion substitution protocol, when one team makes a change due to a head injury, the opposing side is granted an extra substitution as well.
Even though Liverpool didnāt have an injured player of their own, they were entitled to a sixth substitution under these regulations. Slotās awareness of this rule ensured Liverpool remained fully compliant, eliminating any risk of a points deduction.
This incident highlights the strategic decisions Slot continues to make as Liverpool stay firmly on course in their pursuit of th
e Premier League title.