The five-substitute rule could still be introduced in the Premier League this season, the PA news agency understands.

The English top flight is the only major league in Europe which does not allow teams to make five changes in a match in the current campaign, with the Champions League also permitting five substitutes.

The proposal has twice failed to secure the 14-club majority needed to be adopted for the 2020-21 season, after clubs did vote to use it during the final two months of the delayed 2019-20 campaign.

Safeguards are in place to ensure teams are afforded a full two-day gap between European and domestic fixtures – for instance teams playing in the Europa League on a Thursday will not be asked to play on a Saturday, and a team would not be scheduled for a Sunday match in the Premier League if they were in Champions League action the following Tuesday.

But beyond that, there is nothing to stop broadcasters selecting a team in Champions League action on Wednesday to play a Premier League game on a Saturday, for instance.

Liverpool must travel to Brighton for a 12.30pm kick-off on Saturday, November 28 after a Champions League match against Atalanta the previous Wednesday, but the European match is at least at home.

Meanwhile, the Premier League announced there were four new positive tests for coronavirus among staff and players in the last week.

A statement read: “The Premier League can today confirm that between Monday 2 November and Sunday 8 November, 1,646 players and club staff were tested for Covid-19. Of these, there were four new positive tests. Players or club staff who have tested positive will self-isolate for a period of 10 days.”