New Leeds United boss Sam Allardyce reckons Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp and Manchester United counterpart Erik ten Hag are as guilty as the rest when it comes to time-wasting tactics.
Debate over time-wasting, and how many minutes the ball actually spends in play, has been a hot topic across the Premier League this season. Newcastle United have come under the microscope in that respect amid their ongoing quest for Champions League qualification.
Klopp, Ten Hag and Mikel Arteta from Arsenal are among those to have directly flagged up their concerns on the issue. However, former Everton manager Allardyce has stuck up for his old club Newcastle as relegation-threatened Leeds get ready to welcome them to Elland Road this Saturday lunchtime.
READ MORE: Liverpool's possible 25-man squad for next season with four summer transfers
READ MORE: Jordan Henderson backs £179m arrivals to fire Liverpool back to the top
Cutting short a reporter during his press conference, Allardyce said: "Who doesn't do it? Who complained?"
When the reporter namedropped Klopp and Ten Hag, the Leeds manager responded: "Well, he [Klopp] wastes time. He [Ten Hag] wastes time as well."
Allardyce continued: "They all time waste in the last five minutes if they are winning 2-1. Don't be daft.
"Rubbish that is. We've been talking about ball in play, rather than time-wasting, and whether ball in play can be improved, but the game is ferocious and quick enough as it is.
"Fatigue and injuries and resources are strained more than ever before. So if you try speed the game up even more you are going to get more and more crippling injuries than you have ever got because it has never been quicker than it is now. With it being more quick then recovery time is of the essence.
"Because of [there being] so many matches there is no recovery time and, because there is no recovery time, you get more and more injuries and ultimately get more chronic injuries, which can limit a players career, so it is shorter than it should be."
According to data, Liverpool are the best team in the Premier League when it comes to not time-wasting. Newcastle are second bottom, behind Brentford.
READ NEXT:
FSG net spend truth is clear - Liverpool will invest a lot this summer
Liverpool close to £100m boost after Anfield decision made by FSG
Chairman wanted Liverpool to sign 'outrageous' striker Jamie Carragher loves
Liverpool beating Manchester United to top-four would be like winning FA Cup
Liverpool told they will sign their 'own Paul Scholes' if they beat rivals to midfielder
