Premier League clubs 'oppose' UEFA plans for Champions League wildcards as Liverpool watch on

Premier League clubs outside the big six 'oppose' UEFA's plans to introduce wildcards into the Champions League, according to reports.

Sky Sports report that clubs in England view the proposal as a way of 'introducing a form of the European Super League via the back door'. From 2024, the governing body intend to introduce wildcards into the competition based on historical success.

The new format would see the number of participants in the Champions League increase from 32 to 36 and the group stages will be replaced by a single league table that includes all the clubs. The extra places will be awarded to teams with the highest UEFA coefficients over the five years prior, if they've failed to qualify through their domestic league performance over the season.

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One chief executive told Sky Sports there is a risk of 'creep' effect, saying: "It's almost like this is 'European Super League Lite', and the fear is that two might become four, might become eight - with the Champions League becoming more and more of a closed shop."

The plans are expected to be confirmed next month with a vote at the UEFA Congress in Vienna. Liverpool have qualified for the competition the previous five seasons, but if they were to finish outside the top four, they would still stand a good chance of qualifying due to the fact they currently rank third if the club coefficients.

Liverpool supporters' union Spirit of Shankly were one of a number of fan-groups to criticise the proposal as they joined forces with the Football Supporters' Association. They labelled the plans as 'an attempt to force through the controversial Super League ' from last year.

The Sky Sports report adds another matter being discussed is handing a place to the winners of the FA Cup, which they claim would be 'unanimously applauded'. However, with suggestion they would only be given the spot if their UEFA coefficient is high enough, they believe this still only favours the bigger clubs.