JURGEN KLOPP is set to be ignored as Premier League clubs embrace plans to extend the Champions League.As SunSport reported earlier this month, support is growing among Europe’s elite clubs for a revised format involving more games from 2024.2 Jurgen Klopp led Liverpool to Champions League final glory against Spurs on June 1 but is a fierce critic of expanding the competition2 The Premier League’s biggest clubs were determined to resist the plans of Juventus president Andrea AgnelliCredit: Getty Images – GettyLiverpool boss Klopp slammed the plans after his side’s 2-0 win over Watford in the Premier League on Saturday.The straight-talking German, who tasted Champions League glory last season, branded the proposals “absolute b******s”.But as SunSport has previously revealed, Liverpool — along with other members of the Big Six — have been part of extensive negotiations led by Uefa and the European Club Association.And this should lead to clubs agreeing to a redesigned competition.The Prem six were determined not to accept initial plans, drafted by Juventus President Andrea Agnelli.This would have seen 12 games in the initial phase and a ring-fenced structure involving promotion and relegation for the initial elite.CONSENSUS REACHEDBut clubs from across Europe were equally adamant Agnelli’s vision would not fly. Now, though, consensus has been reached over the format meaning ten games in the first phase.There are two models currently being discussed.The first is the so-called “Swiss system”, based on a competition first designed for a chess tournament in Zurich in 1895.That would see 32 teams in one league, but in a series of seeded bands and playing just ten opponents from different seeding groups.The top eight teams in the table after ten games would automatically go to the knockout stage, with the sides ranked 9-24 playing off to join them.ACCA WITH LADBROKES Pick up a whole load of acca features to help you land the big oneIt is envisaged that the top eight would also automatically qualify for the next season’s competition.Although there might be a cap of three guaranteed spots per country to still allow clubs to qualify through their domestic league.The other option under consideration is an extension to 36 teams in the group phase — allowing more nations to take part — with the teams split into six groups of six.The top two in each group would go through, with either a play-off system or the best third place teams determining the final four slots.Whatever the precise shape of the plans, it will require eight European games before Christmas and minimum 17 games to win the competition — four more than now.most read in footballTHROUGH ITRobbie Keane reveals Claudine’s father was ’50-50′ in coronavirus battleTOP SELLERGavin Whelan has gone from League of Ireland to David Beckham’s InstagramPicturedAN EYEFULMeet Playboy model and football agent Anamaria Prodan bidding to buy her own clubExclusiveRIYAD RAIDMan City’s Riyad Mahrez has three luxury watches stolen in £500,000 raidI SAW ROORodallega saw Rooney ‘drinking like madman’ & Gerrard ‘on bar dancing shirtless’NEXT STEPJonny Hayes set to move to English Championship having been let go by CelticThat creates a genuine threat to the long-term future of the League Cup as England will be the only one of the Big Five nations with a second domestic cup from next season.It could also spell the end of FA Cup replays — already scrapped after the fourth-round stage — to free up more space in the fixtures calendar.Discussions will be ramped up in the New Year with an expectation that a final proposal can be voted on at the annual congress of Uefa’s member nations in Amsterdam in early March.Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp is happy to stay at the club as he signs new five-year contract
KINGSTON:The fourth annual CB Group UWI 5K Run/Walk and Smart Eggs Kids K is all set for tomorrow.Various stakeholders will run and walk in aid of student development at the University of the West Indies (UWI). Warm-up is expected to begin at the UWI Bowl at 6 a.m., with race time scheduled for 7 a.m. sharp.Patrons are encouraged to arrive by 6 a.m. for ease of parking, which will be facilitated on the University campus.Since its inaugural staging in 2012, the CB Group UWI 5K has raised over $38 million towards student development. The event is tailored for all generations and that is further emphasised with the running of the Smart Eggs Kids K for children 11 and under.The Kids K is scheduled for 8 a.m., following the 5K, to ensure parents and friends alike can join in cheering on the younger generation as they race the circumference of the combination of cricket and football fields at the Bowl.The race will be officially timed by Running Events’ My Laps bib tag timing system.Elizabeth Buchanan-Hind, executive director for the Institutional Advancement Division in the Office of the Vice-Chancellor and head of the 5K organising committee, is expecting another well supported, safe event.”We are expecting a great turnout as the university community has really bought into the event. The clubs, societies, halls, as well as commuting and alumni body, have all shown interest and the numbers continue to grow,” she said.”The Bowl will be ready to welcome the turnout comfortably and safely. Last year was incident free, and we expect no less this year, especially with our partners Running Events managing the race and officiating it will be of international standards,” said Buchanan-Hind.The 2015 edition of the race is being held under the co-patronage of Douglas Orane, CD, and Donette Chin-Loy Chang. To date, the race has helped the University of the West Indies offer over 75 scholarships to students and from part of the 2014 proceeds donated a thermocycler machine to the Jamaica Kidney Kids Foundation.The CB Group UWI 5K and Smart Eggs Kids K will seek to double the number of participants to continue funding the scholarship initiative and student-development activities at the UWI.