How many subs in Premier League game are allowed? Has the number of substitutes increased from 3 to 5?

How many subs in Premier League game are allowed? Has the number of substitutes increased from 3 to 5?
How many subs in Premier League game are allowed? Has the number of substitutes increased from 3 to 5?

How many subs in Premier League game are allowed? Has the number of substitutes increased from 3 to 5?

Premier League was late to join in on the trend but there was a brief time when teams could make 5 substitutes in a single game. This was directly after football resumed following a lockdown due to the coronavirus pandemic. Due to fixture congestion and player’s lack of match fitness, teams voted for the number of subs to be increased from 3 to 5.

But does that rule still stand? After the end of the season, the rule of 5 subs in a Premier League came to halt. Has it remained at 3 since then, or is the number now at 5? Alley Sport helps you find out.

How many subs in Premier League game are allowed? The number of substitutes remains at 3

The following season saw a resumption of the three substitution rule. This came much to the frustration of managers such as Jurgen Klopp and Pep Guardiola, who vocally argued for the health of the players and the need to have 5 subs once again.

Pep Guardiola and Jurgen Klopp were incensed at how many subs in Premier League game are allowed after Project Restart.
Pep Guardiola and Jurgen Klopp were incensed at how many subs in Premier League game are allowed after Project Restart.

This was a serious matter back then, and before the start of the 2021/22 season, and well into the opening few weeks, there were several official discussions held over what needs to be done about this situation. As it turned out, only three subs are allowed in a Premier League game for each team.

This number never increased to 5 after the end of project restart that saw Liverpool lift their maiden Premier League title.

Can a case be made to increase how many subs in Premier League games a team can make?

Yes. Very much so. Player’s fitness of the utmost importance and the fact that leagues like Serie A and Bundesliga stuck with the ruling even after the end of the 2019/20 season shows that it is a wise thing to do. But there is one case that be made against this.

Stronger teams with more depth and better quality players can bring them on in latter stages of a game and overpower weakened sides. It will basically make it feel like a manager picks out a 16-man squad to take on a side in the Premier League. However, is it really so important to maintain such a near-fictional level playing field that we sacrifice player’s fitness over it? We doubt it.

The empty stadiums during Covid-19 form the backdrop of a grim season. How many subs in Premier League game are allowed now? (Photo by Glyn Kirk -
The empty stadiums during Covid-19 form the backdrop of a grim season. How many subs in Premier League game are allowed now? (Photo by Glyn Kirk –

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Bhaawan

Writing for the love of the game!