Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp is said to be in favor of FA Cup replays being scrapped and says “other solutions” need to be found to support smaller clubs financially.
It comes as leading figures in English football gather to discuss proposals from top-flight clubs to restructure aspects of the domestic game.
“The lifelines of small clubs cannot be massive problems for clubs that play every three days,” Klopp said.
“We can’t solve all the problems by playing more games,” he added.
FA Cup replays were scrapped in the 2020-21 season to help with the backlog of matches caused by Covid-19, while they were also scrapped for the third and fourth rounds last season.
The Times newspaper reports that six leading figures from the Premier League, FA and EFL will meet in person on Friday to discuss “significant changes” to the FA Cup, Carabao Cup and Community Shield.
This includes scrapping FA Cup replays from the third round, when top-flight clubs enter the competition.
When asked if he would be in favor of the change, Klopp replied: “Yes, I always have been.”
Discussing the importance of replays for lower division clubs, the Liverpool manager added: “How many times has it happened that a smaller club has gone through because of that extra game?
“I know there is money at stake and that’s how it is, but we have to find solutions.
“Nobody wants to kill the little clubs; they have exactly the same right to exist as all of us.”
