---
title: "Champions League could be extended by four matches per season"
canonical: "https://readliverpoolfc.com/articles/champions-league-could-be-extended-by-four-matches-per-season/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Henry Jackson"
section: "Articles"
published: "2020-01-16T21:00:00Z"
modified: "2020-01-16T21:00:00Z"
---

# Champions League could be extended by four matches per season

A plan is in place to extend the Champions League by four matches per season, according to *[the Times](https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/plan-to-expand-champions-league-poses-threat-to-efl-cup-wmssd3xd6?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=Twitter#Echobox=1579130072)*.

The new format has [not yet been fully agreed](https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/plan-to-expand-champions-league-poses-threat-to-efl-cup-wmssd3xd6?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=Twitter#Echobox=1579130072), but a restructured group stage is a possibility, as is an ‘additional round-robin phase’.

The report also states that finding the time for extra games is the biggest hurdle to overcome, [in order to avoid disrupting domestic action](https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/plan-to-expand-champions-league-poses-threat-to-efl-cup-wmssd3xd6?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=Twitter#Echobox=1579130072).

The EFL Cup is described as being under the ‘greatest threat’ of being axed moving forward.

### Read Liverpool Verdict

In my opinion, there is simply no need to tinker with the current Champions League format.

It works well having one group stage, in my opinion – the two group phases back in 2001/02 and 2002/03 didn’t work – prior to the knockout stages taking place.

All this does to Liverpool, and every team concerned, is mean more football, risking injuries and fatigue.

I think this is a classic example of football’s authorities making changes for the sake of it, when they should just leave a perfectly good format alone.

Of course, it may allow extra teams a chance to play in Europe’s top club competition, but that shouldn’t take precedence over preserving the fitness of players, as well as the domestic game.