Manchester United and Liverpool ‘driving forces behind ‘Project Big Picture’ in huge shake-up

Liverpool and Manchester United are at the forefront of proposals for an unprecedented overhaul of English football dubbed ‘Project Big Picture’, according to reports.

The two sides are sworn rivals but according to The Daily Telegraph have decided to cooperate on plans that will drastically change the outlook of the game in England.

The report claims the plans call for the Premier League to become an 18-team league, down from the 20 that currently compete in the top-flight, while a £250million coronavirus rescue package would be made available to the EFL to help them through the ongoing pandemic.

Liverpool are among the leading forces behind a revolution in plans for English football

The Reds have also been joined by rivals Manchester United in backing the radical proposals

They also call for the League Cup – won by Manchester City last season – to be scrapped

The curtain-raising Community Shield – won by Arsenal in August – is also set to go

The plans call for the top-flight to cut the number of sides in the league from 20 down to 18

The report also claims 25 per cent of the Premier League’s annual revenue will go to clubs lower down the English football pyramid, while there would also be an outlay of £100m to aid with the FA’s sustainability.

However, the plans are apparently seeking for both the League Cup and the curtain-raising Community Shield to be scrapped, while other discussions are reported to have taken place that have focused on the League Cup staying as it is but without European participation coming as a final reward.

The Telegraph claim these proposals have been documented by Fenway Sports Group, Liverpool’s owners, and are supported by their counterparts at Man United. 

The report adds the two clubs expect the remaining so-called ‘Big Six’ sides – Manchester City, Arsenal, Chelsea and Tottenham – all to endorse their plans.

The plans also allegedly call for controlling power in the league to be put in the hands of just nine top-flight clubs with the longest running stay, which would currently see Everton, Southampton and West Ham join the top-six mentioned above.

Those nine sides would also allegedly be allowed to play more games in the proposed expanded Champions League that is scheduled to start in the 2024/25 season.

The nine sides would allegedly be referred to as having ‘long-term shareholder status’ with unprecedented power, and votes of just six of them would allegedly be required to make changes.

That would also include a veto to prevent a new owner taking over a club.

The one-club, one-vote principle in the Premier League and the threshold of 14 votes to pass decisions and regulation changes are also set to be abolished.

There is also set to be a rethink on promotion from the Championship, and while two automatic promotion places for second-tier clubs would remain, the third, fourth and fifth-placed clubs would compete in a play-off tournament against whichever side finishes 16th in the Premier League. 

As well as the Premier League dropping from the current 20 side to 18, the plans call for only 24 clubs each in the Championship, League One and League Two for a total of 90 throughout English leagues, a reduction of two from the current 92 professional clubs.

The plan has reportedly received the backing of supported by the EFL chairman Rick Parry who has held talks with both Liverpool and United’s owners since discussions on the project began in 2017.

They have reportedly gained pace ever since football’s finances were plunged into drastic turmoil following the outbreak of the pandemic and reports that fans may not return to stadiums until March at the earliest to bring back matchday revenue to somewhere near normality.

United and Liverpool are reportedly prepared to engage in a debate on this, but are also said to be eager for their proposals to be put into action at the earliest available date. 

John W Henry and Liverpool’s Fenway Sports Group owners are keen to see plans in action

However, Liverpool and United are expecting to receive endorsement from City for the plans

Tottenham would also be part of the top six clubs who are expected to back the proposals

Chelsea are one of the other top-six sides Liverpool and United are expecting support from

City, Chelsea and even Everton (above) would be part of a nine-club group to hold all power

Liverpool and United’s owners have allegedly held conversations with EFL chairman Rick Parry